Racist letter sparks political debate

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After having many powerful politicians criticize his view on the development of Aboriginal people in the workforce, Reform MP Jim Pankiw (Saskatoon-Humbolt) is standing strong by comments he made in a Jan. 6 letter to both University of Saskatchewan President Peter MacKinnon and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Jack Hilson.

On December 22, 1999 the University of Saskatchewan and Saskatchewan's NDP government signed a partnership agreement to increase the percentage of Aboriginal people employed at the university. This fueled Pankiw to write the controversial letter that compared the partnership agreement to "modern day Klansmen," saying that it is a "racist hiring initiative" and hiring should be "based on merit and qualification, as opposed to race." He also wrote "the hiring policy being proposed and the inevitable consequences bear a resemblance to the former segregationist policies of the southern Unites States."

After the letter leaked into the mainstream press and into the hands of many politicians, such as Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations Chief Perry Bellegarde and Jack Hilson, Pankiw found himself under a lot of pressure to explain himself to the Aboriginal community.

In a recent interview with Windspeaker, Pankiw talked about the letter and why he made the comments. "I don't think we should make race-based enquiries," said Pankiw. "When this program goes into effect they (U of S) will pre-screen applicants to discriminate against non-Natives; it's like them saying to Native employees . . . 'Since you can't do it on your own, we will give you special treatment.'

"This is going to harm the Native community and promote racism. Natives in the workforce will be looked at in resentment. Non-Natives will say, 'he got the job because he's Native;' that's how people will perceive Native people in the workforce" stated Pankiw. "If, in the future, the employment rate of Aboriginal people remains at one per cent, so be it; we can't justify the potential of Native people in the workforce based on racist hiring initiatives." When asked about the future potential of today's Native youth as opposed to non-Native youth, he stated, "This initiative harms their future; if it was the opposite, then everyone would be equal and have a fair chance. Native youth will find themselves struggling in the future because they may not be educated or experienced enough-I mean we need to promote harmony, we all want a society where we're all equal, right?"

Hilson's response was more public than MacKinnon's. Hilson went on television to send a clear message to Pankiw:

"I would like to meet with Mr. Pankiw and his people and challenge him to a debate and explain to him how wrong he is on this issue, and tell him that the partnership agreement between my party and the U of S is a positive move for the Province of Saskatchewan.

"The employment rate for First Nations people is only one per cent, and they take up only 13 per cent of the Saskatchewan's population. If that percentage remains the same, then the future of Saskatchewan is going to look very bleak," said Hilson. He added, "I think that his comparison to the Ku Klux Klan is silly, foolish, and childish. What baffles me the most is that I thought he was into helping people; obviously that is not what's happening here."

Just recently the two finally met on CBC News Hour in a conference call debate, Pankiw was in Saskatoon, and Hilson was in Regina. The two debated endlessly over the partnership agreement and Pankiw's negative views. Hilson's main argument was the fact that Pankiw had no problem at all if the Aboriginal employment rate remained at one percent. Pankiw continued to state his argument of the "racist-hiring initiative" being undertaken with the partnership agreement. Pankiw says he will not apologize to anyone, and will stand by his comments.

There were others who had a strong opinion as well, like F.S.I.N. Chief Perry Bellegarde. He wnt on APTN's Indigenus Circle to criticize Pankiw for his comments. "It's obvious that he doesn't do his own letters; he probably just signs them. This kind of stuff is breaking that bridge to the future for First Nations people." explained Bellegarde. "What we're (F.S.I.N.) trying to do is educate the non-Native people about treaties and the relationship we created years ago to co-exist with each other, and I guess we have to do a better job, because it looks like some people just don't understand, like Mr. Pankiw." Bellegarde also said, "I think that he needs to learn more about our people before he criticizes our people. We're always working with the non-Native community, to build better relationships and better partnerships so we can all have a brighter future. Stuff like this really breaks that ongoing relationship, and it upsets me."

Many youth were interviewed as well, regarding the "K.K.K. Letter" as Jack Hilson would put it.

One native university student said, "Jim Pankiw does not realize the huge potential that Native students have; we are almost up there with everyone else. I mean the more we go to school, like University, and get a career, the more powerful we are as Native people; we have more university educated chiefs and lawyers these days. Finally here is a chance for Native youth to prove that we can succeed like everyone else. I'm proud to see this partnership agreement in stone, we can now make our people proud."

That is exactly what the partnership agreement is about, "making people proud, and making a difference in the community," says Jack Hilson, "I hope that in the future we can sign more agreements, and more relationships for a brighter future for Saskatchewan, involving Native people and non-Native people."