First Nations Call for Senator Beyak’s Resignation
Today, Nishnawbe Aski Nation’s (“NAN”) Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler and Grand Council Treaty #3’s (GCT#3) Ogichidaa Francis Kavanaugh, launched a nation-wide campaign and website calling for Senator Lynn Beyak to resign as a member of the Senate of Canada.
Grand Chief Fiddler stated, “Senator Beyak’s shameful defense of the Indian Residential School system is unbefitting for a member of the Senate. Her lack of knowledge and empathy for the horrors of the Residential School experience is offensive to Survivors and all the children who were lost. The Senator is entitled to her personal opinions, but we are appalled that such inaccurate, racist and spiteful sentiments are being expressed by a representative of Canadian Parliament […] Her repeated defense of Residential Schools is insulting, and makes a mockery of Canada’s efforts towards reconciliation. We call on all First Nations and our allies, the broader communities in Dryden, Kenora and Thunder Bay to join as we petition for Senator Beyak’s resignation.”
Ogichidaa Kavanaugh, stated “There is no other way to describe Senator Beyak’s views but as deplorable,” who has signed the petition along with Grand Chief Jerry Daniels of the Southern Chiefs Organization of Manitoba.
Last week, the Senator was removed from the Conservative caucus after failing to remove racist and inflammatory letters posted on her website. She continues to deny the horror and injustice of Indian Residential School experience and defends racist letters posted on her website as ‘free speech.
In the News
NAN, Grand Council Treaty 3 seek support for petition calling on Sen. Beyak to Resign CBC, January 10, 2018
NAN Media Release January 9, 2018
NAN and Grand Council Treaty Three Call For Beyak’s Resignation NetNewsLedger, January 9, 2018
NAN responds to Sen. Lynn Beyak being removed from Conservative caucus TBNewsWatch, January 6, 2018
Sen. Lynn Beyak booted from Conservative caucus over ’racist’ post on website National Post, January 4, 2018