The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) is calling for the immediate resignation of MLA Dallas Brodie, accusing her and the OneBC party of spreading anti-Indigenous and residential school denialist rhetoric.
In a joint statement issued from xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, the FNLC said Brodie’s actions perpetuate harm against residential school survivors and must be investigated.
Regional Chief Terry Teegee of the BC Assembly of First Nations said chiefs at last week’s Annual General Meeting passed a resolution demanding Brodie’s resignation for violating workplace guidelines and the province’s Reconciliation Action Plan. He said her promotion of denialism has “sown division, fear, and hatred.”
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, called Brodie’s remarks “racist residential school denialism” and urged the Province to invest in public education about residential schools.
Robert Phillips of the First Nations Summit said Brodie’s behaviour shows racism is still present in B.C. politics and that her attempts to deny history undermine reconciliation.
The FNLC reaffirmed its support for survivors, intergenerational survivors, and families affected by residential schools, saying denialism cannot be tolerated in public institutions.
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