Wide-spread discrimination experienced by Aboriginals

There are two main reasons why few Aboriginal people seek help when they have experienced discrimination: they either don’t know help is available or they don’t believe the system works.

The findings were revealed by the Aboriginal Commission on Human Rights and Justice last month in Edmonton in what Mayor Stephen Mandel referred to as a “tremendous document.”

Entitled “The Aboriginal Perspective on Human Rights in Alberta,” the document outlines why Aboriginal people don’t use the system and the barriers they face in having discrimination, which permeates every aspect of society, addressed.

“Many (Aboriginal people) were unaware that they had legally binding rights to be treated with respect and without discrimination,” said Muriel Stanley Venne, commission co-chair. She also noted that a “let it be” attitude displayed by Aboriginal people is another reason why the Canadian Human Rights Commission and Alberta Human Rights Commission were not receiving the number of complaints that would be a truer representation of the amount of discrimination Aboriginals face on a daily basis.

Research for the report was conducted through community forums in Edmonton, Calgary, and Grande Prairie and with an electronic survey.  The findings were backed by a literature review of Alberta-based research on discrimination against Aboriginal people.

The findings are “powerful,” said Edmonton City Councillor Ron Hayter, “and they cannot be ignored.”

Both personal stories and literature review indicated that Aboriginal people are disproportionately targeted for hate and bias in the work place, school, housing, government and service industry.  The report noted that 73 per cent of those surveyed said they had not sought help after experiencing discrimination because they feared that “reporting would not result in help or action, (feared) that the claim would not be taken seriously, or (feared) that the process would be too stressful.”

Hate and bias in law enforcement were also noted by respondents. Edmonton City Police Chief Mike Boyd and RCMP Chief Superintendent Fred Kayman stated that their respective police forces were taking action, including diversifying in hiring of their members.

“Racial bias and discrimination in Canada, in Alberta and in our communities cannot be tolerated,” said Kayman. “This report shines the light of day on a dark aspect of our world.”

“What the report recommends provides a road map for going forward,” said Boyd, who also committed to working with the Aboriginal community to improve police services and race relations in order to eliminate discrimination.

Commissioner on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Wilton Littlechild, former Member of Parliament for Wetaskiwin-Rimby, said the report was one more step in ensuring human rights for Indigenous people. Littlechild pointed to the work that has been done on the world front, including his involvement with the United Nations which began 25 years ago to produce the Declaration on the Rights of the Indigenous Peoples, which was only recently endorsed by the Canadian government in the Speech from the Throne.

The report offers recommendations on moving forward.
The report states that “public education on issues of discrimination against Aboriginal people remains inadequate.” It notes that a variety of aspects of discrimination needs to be addressed ranging from attitudes and public policy to culturally appropriate education programs.

Ongoing research is also recommended and includes regular monitoring of Aboriginal communities to ensure continuing awareness of their human rights as well as to ensure appropriate means are in place to deal with human rights issues.

“The report is a community driven report. The voice of the people has been heard and they have confirmed once again what academics and what researchers have brought forth. And the literature has confirmed what the community has said and the community has confirmed what the literature has said,” said Lewis Cardinal, co-chair of the commission. “The report has now given us direction and guidance.”

In addressing the next steps, the report noted that there is a leadership role that can be played by Aboriginal community organizations such as the Alberta Commission on Human Rights and Justice, which was established with the mandate to advocate for Aboriginal human rights in Alberta. As the commission “works across sectors and in close collaboration with diverse organizations and community groups, it plays an important role in educating non-Aboriginal populations and organizations . . . on issues of race relations.”

The report further states, “The goal of uncovering, addressing, and ending discrimination is to ensure that Aboriginal people can contribute and participate fully in the social, cultural, political and economic life of the province while maintaining  unique identities, histories, traditions, languages, and rights . . . . ”

“This report begins the process,” said Stanley Venne.