Letter to the Editor: In solidarity, sister

Dear Editor:
I am absolutely appalled by the recent article written by Ric Dolphin in the Feb. 13 edition of the Western Standard magazine regarding Dr. Colleen Klein. The magazine article quotes an unnamed Conservative source as saying that when her husband retires as Alberta premier, she'll be "just another Indian."

Mrs. Klein has worked tirelessly within our Indigenous communities to help in bridging the cultural gap that exists within mainstream society. Articles like the one recently published in the Western Standard magazine only help to perpetuate racist attitudes. There's still much work to be done in the area of cross-cultural awareness.

Colleen is respected and held in high regard for her compassion and utter commitment to the health and wellbeing of Alberta's First Nations and Metis communities. I see her as a role model for women in her dedication to address issues such as ending violence against women and I perceive this particular article as abuse of our Indigenous women.

We value Mrs. Klein for who she is as a person, not the status of how she's viewed as the premier's wife, and other labels that have been attached to her. We as a community stand by her in this time of ridicule and hope that someday First Nations, Metis and Inuit people of this country will not have to encounter intolerant behaviors towards the first peoples of this land.
In Unity and Spirit,