Racism won’t disappear by itself, says head of Aboriginal Professional Association of Canada – TB News Watch
Growing up in Saskatchewan, Gabrielle Scrimshaw encountered racism on a near daily basis.
But of all the hate she faced as an Aboriginal woman, one particular incident stands out. She was with a group of people, when a young man who wanted to join the RCMP blurted out he couldn’t wait to become a cop so he could go shoot some “effin’ Indians.”
Taken aback and a little ashamed of her heritage, Scrimshaw said nothing.
Later, when her sister pointed out that the person being shot could wind up being her nephew Ethan, Scrimshaw realized the gravity of not speaking up.
“Not only do our actions have consequences, but our inactions as well,” Scrimshaw said on Thursday morning as she addressed a crowd of 400-strong who attended the ninth annual Diversity Thunder Bay anti-racism breakfast.
