WINNIPEG – Mayor Brian Bowman addressed the issue of racism in Winnipeg at a news conference Thursday following the release of a Maclean’s cover feature on the subject.
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Bowman teared up as he talked about his own Metis heritage and how he hopes his children will be proud of both their mother’s Ukrainian and his ancestry.
“We’re not going to end racism tomorrow, but we’re sure as hell going to try,” he said.
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Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Derek Nepinak, treaty commissioner Jamie Wilson, University of Manitoba president David Barnard, University of Winnipeg president Annette Trimbee and aboriginal activists Michael Champagne and Althea Guiboche were among those standing behind Bowman at the event, and some of them also spoke.
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The front of the latest Maclean’s magazine blares “Canada has a bigger race problem than America. And it’s ugliest in Winnipeg.”
“They call me a stupid squaw, or tell me to go back to the rez,” is written in the largest print on the cover. The quotation is from Winnipeg Cree activist, broadcaster and writer Rosanna Deerchild, whose photo appears beside it.
The headlines herald a special 17-page report in the magazine.
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