Residential school denialism has no place in community or on our local school board
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“Residential school denialism is negationist ideology that trivializes, downplays, or misrepresents the effects of the Canadian Indian residential school system.”
— Wikipedia
I am writing to not only express my support, our support, for residential school survivors in our country. I am also writing to ensure that voters in municipalities and school boards across Manitoba ask candidates where they stand on what has become “hate” — residential school denialism.
There is at least one candidate for Brandon School Division board of trustees who has written extensively as a RS denialist — for years. There may be others.
We should all be educated on where candidates stand, especially when hate is evident.
For context, my grandfather and grandmother both attended residential schools — one in Canada, one in the U.S. My grandfather ran away because of what happened to him. He also went back and was able to get his little sister out of the school too.
A couple of days ago, we saw an explicit display of this hate in Kamloops. These RS deniers are part of a clear white supremacist hate organization. Do not be fooled. The people running to manage our schools in Brandon may not be wearing masks like cowards but they are representing the same hate, in this case towards Indigenous people.
The Brandon Sun is hosting candidate fora and debates for mayor and council candidates. I urge the Sun to host a forum for school board so that residents can ask each candidate where they stand on this issue.
The group in Kamloops a fews days ago are the Second Sons. It is a Canadian men’s-only white nationalist group. It is currently the largest white nationalist organization in Canada.
Do we want a white nationalist group in Brandon? Do we want RS deniers who are supported by white nationalists to be making decisions on curriculum for our children?
I do not.
I call out the candidates who push this hate to publicly state who they are and where they stand. We all need to know. We all need to keep our schools safe from hate.
Will Goodon
Brandon