The blame game can’t strengthen First Nations – Winnipeg Free Press
Aug. 31, 2015
Former provincial court judge Brian Giesbrecht’s column (Male violence on trial, Aug. 25) requires some response. In reference to the assault inflicted on Rinelle Harper last fall, Giesbrecht states “Rinelle is a typical female aboriginal victim of violence in that her alleged attackers were also aboriginal.” The article argues that the main cause of violence against aboriginal women is aboriginal men.
Giesbrecht also blames the victims, aboriginal women, for harms inflicted upon them. “Most of the missing women are vulnerable to predators, such as Robert Pickton, because they live high-risk lives as street prostitutes.”
There is no balance in the article, no mention of the 60 per cent to 95 per cent unemployment rate on First Nations. There is no woman, white or native, who wishes to become sexually exploited or beaten to death.
