Superintendent decries trustee’s remarks, says they go ‘against all that we stand for’
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 27/04/2024 (881 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
A presentation made by a Mountain View School Division trustee about Indigenous issues has the potential to undo years of work toward reconciliation, the division’s superintendent said in a statement issued on Thursday.
At a Monday meeting in Dauphin, Ward 2 trustee Paul Coffey defended residential schools, used outdated terms for Indigenous people and questioned the findings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission during a presentation.
Supt. Stephen Jaddock said in a message posted to the division’s website that words used by a trustee on Monday “greatly upset and disturbed” him, though he did not specifically name Coffey.
Education Minister Nello Altomare is shown in the Manitoba legislature. Altomare has appointed a three-person panel to oversee the troubled Mountain View School Division. But with no word on what direction the panel has been given, it's tough to know what to expect. (File)
“It has done much damage that has the potential to undo years of important reconciliation work and runs against all that we stand for,” Jaddock said.
“I am personally disappointed that I did not attempt to interrupt and stop the presentation, so I take ownership as someone who was present in the room. I do not want, however, the great work that is currently being done and that has been done in MVSD Schools to stop because of this.”
He added that the division’s efforts toward anti-racism and reconciliation will continue, emphasized the importance of the division’s partnerships with Indigenous groups and highlighted some efforts produced by those partnerships.
Reached by email on Friday, MVSD board chair Gabe Mercier said he was unavailable for an interview as he is on vacation out of the country until next week.
Coffey did not respond to Sun requests for an interview sent on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
An email requesting an interview with vice-chair Jason Gryba, who chaired Monday’s meeting, was also not answered.
On Thursday, Education Minister Nello Altomare told the media that the provincial government was ordering a governance review of the division in response to the remarks and that he was to speak with representatives from MVSD on Friday.
Several groups, including the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, the Southern Chiefs’ Organization and the Manitoba Teachers’ Society, have called for Coffey’s removal from the board.
» cslark@brandonsun.com
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