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Mi’kmaq and Wolastoqiyik Chiefs are calling for the resignation of Arlene Dunn, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and MLA for Saint John Harbour, after she opposed a public inquiry into systemic racism in the justice system.
The call came a day after the Legislative Assembly debated a motion endorsing the Chiefs’ long-standing call for that public inquiry.
Minister Dunn, on behalf of the Higgs government, removed any reference to an inquiry in the motion.
“We are outraged by the actions of the Progressive Conservatives yesterday. They gutted a motion calling for an inquiry, completely removing its purpose,” said Chief Ross Perley of Negotkuk in a release. “Removing the reference to the inquiry but then trying to pretend they want to address systemic racism is disgraceful.”
The Chiefs had hoped Dunn would work with them to address issues like systemic racism in the justice system, child poverty, and improving Treaty relationships.
“As the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, Minister Dunn is supposed to be an advocate for the Indigenous peoples in this province. It was a slap in the face to see Minister Dunn was the Member who actually moved the amendment to the motion that removed all references to an inquiry. We have lost our trust in her,” added Chief George Ginnish of Natoaganeg.
Premier Blaine Higgs had said in a previous interview that his government wants to “get on with things we can do right now.”
He said there are “different studies of different kinds” that already made hundreds of recommendations that would help Indigenous communities, of which only a very small proportion have been implemented.
He also said he wants more clarity on what an inquiry into systemic racism would look like and what it would achieve.
“I agree there is indeed a racism issue here and systemic racism is alive and well across our country and we need to address it,” he said. “But I like to know what is actually were trying to achieve, what’s the mechanisms to achieve it, and then let’s have a timeline to actually get something done.”
But the Chiefs said those reasons were not valid, and only points to the government’s own failure to act on the findings and recommendations of other commissions and inquiries affecting Indigenous Peoples, including the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples.
They said they’ve repeatedly provided the government with a list of immediately actionable changes in the justice system and other sectors, but none of those have been implemented.
The Chiefs said they had met with Dunn earlier this week, and told her again that previous reports don’t specifically address racism in the province or racism in the justice system.
They said the need for an inquiry is separate from the need for action on past commissions and inquiries that addressed other issues.
“Without an inquiry, the government cannot be forced to cooperate and share all necessary information, and this government will continue to deny the level of systemic racism that exists and as a result the measures that need to be implemented to combat systemic racism will never be undertaken,” said Chief Tim Paul of Wotstak in the release.
“Once again, this government is taking a paternalistic approach, and assumes they know better than we do what our communities need. We are partners in this process. Start treating us with the fairness and respect we deserve. We’re not going anywhere,” said Chief Sacha LaBillois.
They also called out Education Minister Dominic Cardy for expressing support but not acting.
Inda Intiar is a report with Huddle, an Acadia Broadcasting content partner.
