Rick Langlois didn’t want to have to talk about it.
But an altercation with some attendees at Pelham’s Summer Chill in Peace Park on Thursday evening left him angry. Langlois, who is Anishinaabe, is a survivor of the ‘60s Scoop, when Indigenous children were taken from their homes and placed in the child welfare system. He was at Summer Chill as part of a pop-up Indigenous market, where he was selling his artworks.
“We're still dealing with racism. It got to the point last night where every vendor (the Town) had here was insulted,” Langlois said at a flag raising outside of Town Hall on Friday, June 21, to commemorate National Indigenous Peoples Day.
What happened, Langlois said, was a confrontation he had with a group of men who Langlois suspects were intoxicated. Several times members of the group bumped into some of Langlois’ art pieces. Words were exchanged,with the group becoming aggressive and Langlois being subjected to derogatory name calling.
“I grew up in a time when it was shameful to admit you’re Aboriginal. I hate to say it but after yesterday … I will say the education that's being put out there needs to be put out to more people to realize that where you are (is on Indigenous land).”
“If you can't respect that, we're going to have incidents like we did last night.”
Langlois said he spoke with a member of Town staff after the incident, and they were responsive.
“She was very good about it,” Langlois said.
But, he added, the incident shows there is a long road ahead on the path to reconciliation with Indigenous people.
Mayor Marvin Junkin was taken aback by the events described by Langlois and apologized on the spot at the flag raising to the Welland resident for what happened at Summer Chill.
“That's the first I heard that there was that kind of shenanigans — and then that's putting it lightly —at the event last night. I’m certainly concerned,” he said.
“We will definitely be talking to staff to see exactly what we can do to make sure that doesn't happen again and then go from there.”
Earlier, Junkin praised the efforts of the Indigenous community who are doing their part for reconciliation.
“We are fortunate in the town to have community partners who are passionate about sharing their knowledge and experiences,” he said. “There are opportunities that will continue to open up space for the voices to be heard and for continued learning.”
James Doxtador, a member of the Lower Cayuga Bear Clan from the Six Nations, said June 21 is “a day to recognize their resilience, wisdom and the importance of preserving their heritage. By acknowledging the National Indigenous Peoples Day we affirm our commitment to reconciliation, justice, and a respect for Indigenous rights.”
Doxtador said Langlois, in coming forward with his experience at Summer Chill, brought up some “good points” that the non-Indigenous community can learn from.
“He showed a lot of knowledge and wisdom in being here,” Doxtador said. “He’s well respected in the community and I think that was a teaching moment.”
In addition to the flag raising, the Town also marked the day with a drum workshop at the Meridian Community Centre, led by Josephine Lavalley, an Onondaga from the Six Nations. The program included a water ceremony with moon water, smudging, drumming, and singing.
She said marking National Indigenous Peoples Day is an important step on the path toward truth and reconciliation.
“It’s important for the people of all nations to come together and unite with understanding and compassion for healing of the nation’s people,” she said.
