tansi ninôtemik,
There are days where we feel like we have finally begun to move on from the damaging narratives imposed upon Indigenous peoples, and then there are days that bring us right back to that feeling of oppression all over again. On October 19, 2024, British Columbia’s Conservative candidate, Marina Sapozhnikov, strengthened this feeling with her incredibly damaging comments.[1]
In a recorded interview by a student majoring in Indigenous studies, Sapozhnikov explicitly stated that Indigenous people “were savages,” explaining that they “fought with each other all the time.”[2] She opined that the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act had turned non-Indigenous people into “second-rate citizens.”[3] As if those remarks were not enough, Sapozhnikov bolstered her position, stating that Indigenous people “didn’t have any sophisticated laws.”[4] Not only is this an inaccurate and harmful take, but it highlights how microaggressive stereotypes continue to be a focal point in conversations about Indigenous folks.
Indigenous peoples and their various nations had many laws, some of which were tragically lost due to colonization. However, there still remain organizations that are actively working with nations in an attempt to revitalize those lost laws, for instance, the Wahkohtowin Law and Governance Lodge. To learn more about the Wahkohtowin Lodge and their efforts, we recommend visiting their website[5], where you can support the organization by donating to their research funding.[6] Statements as damaging as the ones by Sapozhnikov, illustrate the importance of empowering the work and research done by organizations like the Wahkohtowin Lodge.
In a previous blog post, we discussed the Canadian Medical Association’s apology for their contribution in harm towards Indigenous people.[7] It is hard not to think of this as a deep setback, as Sapozhnikov worked at a rural hospital and also trained medical students and residents from the University of Alberta and the University of British Columbia.[8] Given her extreme opinion, it is scary to think about her role in “fostering the next generation of healthcare professionals,” as explicitly detailed in her political profile by the BC Conservative party.[9]
It is important to note that Sapozhnikov was aware of being recorded during the interview, and chose to answer as she did.[10] Given that Sapozhnikov was clearly comfortable expressing these harmful beliefs and came dangerously close to being elected as Jean de Fuca-Malahat’s MLA,[11] should the University of Alberta and the University of British Columbia’s faculties of medicine should make a statement condemning her views? Do you believe that microaggressions such as these contribute to the difference in quality of healthcare given to Indigenous peoples?
We would love to hear your thoughts and continue a dialogue about these relevant issues, so we can raise more awareness that oppression has merely changed form over the years and has not been eradicated.
ekosi and until next time,
The ReconciliACTION Team
Citations
[1] CBC News & The Canadian Press, “B.C. Conservative candidate under fire for racist remarks about Indigenous people” (26 October 2024) online: <cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-conservative-candidate-marina-sapozhnikov-racist-slur-indigenous-peoples-1.7364936> [CBC News & The Canadian Press].
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Interview of Marina Sapozhnikov by Alyona Latsinnik (19 October 2024), online: <cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6547688>.
[5] University of Alberta, “Wahkohtowin Law & Governance Lodge” (28 October 2024), online: <https://www.ualberta.ca/en/wahkohtowin/index.html>.
[6] University of Alberta, “Donate” (28 October 2024), online: <ualberta.ca/en/wahkohtowin/donate.html>.
[7] ReconciliACTION YEG, “Apologies Towards Reconciliation” (19 September 2024) online: <https://www.reconciliactionyeg.ca/post/apologies-towards-reconciliation>.
[8] Conservative Party of British Columbia, “About Marina Sapozhnikov” (9 November 2023) online: <conservativebc.ca/marina>.
[9] Ibid.
[10] CBC News & The Canadian Press, supra note 1.
[11] Ibid.
[Image] CBC News & The Canadian Press, supra note 1.
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