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People constantly tell me that Kenora isn’t racially segregated and that there’s no racism in Kenora.
Every day I see traces of the feeling that’s running hidden but very close to the surface amongst Kenora’s population.
For instance with people queuing at a local establishment that serves alcohol, more than one person has seen them turn away native folk and let in a bunch of white chicks with blonde hair.
The bars ARE racially segregated. Native folk don’t go to Haps unless they’re cops or with a bunch of white people. White people don’t go to Shooter’s unless they’re teens, Haps is closed, or if there’s live entertainment. I’ve seen white cops off duty in Haps numerous times. The only time in 7 years I’ve seen them in Shooters is when they’re on duty.
Or sit down in McDonald’s around 0800hrs and listen to the old folk talk. Yapping on about hating natives.
I wish it would stop.
The first step is to get the non-native population to empathise and try to understand life as a native person in a white dominated culture. Most folk don’t realise that being born native specifically (as opposed to other minorities) in our society puts them at a disadvantage because of the prevalent prejudice, and makes life a struggle right from birth. If the non-native population started to actually care, and not just pay lip service to caring, then things would one day get better. Then I wouldn’t have to walk down the street seeing people I know are racist and wish a piano would fall on their head.
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I used to work with Bell in Kenora before I hit the road and went offshore.
Funny, but I worked in the north with a guy named Andy Scribillo.
Even more funny, he went o to get out of th enorth and became th epres of the Kenora Chamber of Commerce.
Now i hear he is pres of the Northwest Ont Chamber of commerce….wooooah.
He was driving a truck one night after a party in Big Trout Lake which flipped three times on the runway.
His idea was to blame it on Indians as, “Nobody will believe white people did this.”
Go ahead and think there might be less than equality in K town…its never gonna happen.
Natives will always be the joke and the brunt of what european based leather call jokes…
ta ta
Actually, rambling nonsense like Anthony Ryan’s is not helpful in this serious matter. Many people both Native and white work very hard to mend fences and learn to respect each other. These things are not reported as most people do not run around telling of the great things they try and do. I have seen racism on both sides. Lets try and show some intelligence in these posts.
I`ll be the first to tell you that I`m currently a resident of Kenora but i`m still an outsider looking in. I recently moved to the eye pleasing town of Kenora. I just move from Winnipeg (one of the most racist urban settings in Canada) and found just as much racism here. Unfortantly the difference here is that its so widely accepted its the norm. The hushed whispered stereotypes and unfounded ideas becoming the truth. I`m an ojibway woman but i don`t look like your sterotypical native. I was sitting in the local mall and listened as two non aboriginal woman had a conversation (yes i eavedropped), at one point one said to the other,`while didn`t you know her boyfriend is an Indain,` the other woman said,`while you know what that means,` the first woman that spoke looked around to see if anyone was listening and saw me since i was nearest to their table, smiled, since she thought it was safe and said, `yeah if she isn`t careful she might have a couple of future alcholic half breeds.` I finished up my coffee called to the waitress and threw a twenty on the table i looked at the two woman and said, you should probly hope she does because this half breed just paid for your ladys coffee and strolled out. So yes Kenora does have race segregation, just like anywhere else in the world. People who live here are more likely to whisper or be polite about it.