Métis Nation wants action from BCIT after offensive staff email

By

BURNABY (NEWS 1130) — Métis Nation BC is reconsidering whether BCIT is a culturally safe environment for its citizens after seeing an offensive, derogatory email sent by an employee.

BCIT confirmed the existence of the email, announcing an investigation into the matter Sunday in a joint statement with Métis Nation BC (MNBC).

“BCIT recognizes and unreservedly apologizes for the deep harm such words have on Métis staff, faculty, students and citizens across the province,” it reads.

“BCIT takes this complaint very seriously and has investigated and addressed this issue internally, consistent with internal policies and legally mandated employee privacy and confidentiality considerations.”

Daniel Fontaine, MNBC CEO and Deputy Minister, says an internal investigation isn’t enough to ensure accountability — particularly given the role this staff member plays at the post-secondary institution.

“As a Métis citizen myself, it was offensive to me, and the commentary in there was very hurtful to Métis people across British Columbia,” he says.

“It was written by a senior official who works within their Indigenous initiatives and partnerships branch, so someone who should clearly understand, have empathy and understanding for Métis people, and the rights to self-determination and self-governance,” he says.

The email was anonymously leaked to MNBC last month. According to Fontaine, the content disparaged Métis by saying they do not deserve the same rights as First Nations, and implied Métis people are not legitimately or authentically Indigenous. It also linked to a column containing what he describes as similarly derogatory statements.

Fontaine says when BCIT leadership learned about the email, the seriousness was recognized immediately.

“There was a number of things that were said in there that, clearly, when BCIT was made aware of them, obviously they were horrified as well, and that triggered the investigation,” he says.

‘It’s not just this single incident’

However, Fontaine says an investigation that only considers this one message and one employee won’t adequately address the issues it raises.

“We don’t even know how many people it was sent to, but it was sent to a number of other post-secondary institutions who are working on Indiegnization strategies,” he explains.

“One question that remains still remains today is, ‘Who received that email?'”

Fontaine says it’s important to answer this, to look into how the email was received by a group of people looking at how post-secondary institutions can better respect and include Indigenous ways of knowing, and be more equitable environments for Indigenous students and staff.

“Is there an understanding of Métis culture, Métis ways of life, and Métis rights within that group?” he asks.

“It’s a bigger investigation because it’s not just this single incident, it’s clearly linked to other post-secondary institutions around the province, we just don’t know yet how many other institutions received it and what their staff did when they did receive a copy of that correspondence.”

MNBC has asked for an independent, external review of the incident done by a person or people that it has approved. Fontaine says cultural sensitivity and awareness training specifically about Métis should be required at BCIT, and that Métis elders and citizens are given the chance to review BCIT’s Indigenous Awareness curriculum.

Métis Nation BC to ‘rethink’ relationship with BCIT

The email raises larger questions for MNBC about their citizens’ treatment at colleges and universities.

“When I brought this to the attention of our cabinet, it triggered a lot of emotion among people. They were recalling their own personal stories of incidents they’ve had be it either at BCIT or other post-secondary institutions,” he says.

“I’m hoping something good will come out of this, something positive can come out of this, and that we can come out the other end with post-secondary institutions that all Aboriginal people including First Nations and Metis can go to and feel culturally safe. Based on what I read, at this moment, notwithstanding the commitments of BCIT senior leadership — there are many concerns that remain within the Metis community.”

Noting MNBC has provided considerable funding for Metis students to attend BCIT, Fontaine says this has forced MNBC to question whether it will continue to do so.

“We send them there because we value the education that they provide, and we assume it’s culturally safe. We have to rethink that. We have to absolutely as a government rethink whether or not we want to be sending students to BCIT based on the incident that happened, he says.

“That’s a pretty significant move given our relationship with BCIT over the years. But all that’s under consideration right now.”

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today