Talk on systemic racism stirs the pot – St. Paul Journal

Sep 20, 2017

It was as if the cork of a bottle popped off, and frustration, anger and pain came gushing out, when St. Paul’s Reunion Station held a Friday morning meeting on systemic racism. First Nations people stood to speak out, decried the experience of being written off as drunks, wiped away tears as they talked about their children being bullied in schools, and talked about ongoing segregation in St. Paul and area.

The meeting was held in response to reported instances of racism, with the Town of St. Paul hosting the meeting and inviting Saddle Lake’s Carl Quinn to act as the facilitator.

“These are things we face every day when we come to St. Paul,” said Saddle Lake Chief Eddie Makokis of racism and discrimination, speaking forcefully about how vital First Nations are to the community of St. Paul, spending what he described as $13 million annually in the town and keeping it alive.