Alderville First Nation Calls for Resignation of KPRDSB Trustee Gordon Gilchrist
ALDERVILLE FIRST NATION, June 2, 2016 – Alderville First Nation Chief and Council are calling on Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board Trustee Gordon Gilchrist to resign from his position.
According to reports, offensive comments were made about our First Nations youth drummers on May 4th, at the Cobourg Collegiate Institute grand opening celebration. Its alleged that Gilchrist told a group of students from the school jazz band, “there’s more to music than banging on a drum and yelling…I wouldn’t have been so eager to take over this country if I’d known that was the kind of music they played here.” The trustee’s comments were reported by some students.
On Monday, May 30th, a historic event took place in the Ontario legislature. Premier Kathleen Wynne apologized for the “province’s silence in the face of abuses and deaths at residential schools.” The province released a plan to demonstrate its commitment to reconciliation with indigenous people.
“Racism exists,” said Chief James Marsden. “that’s why the Province is introducing programs that will help build trust and respect into the relationship with First Nations people. The disturbing comments made from Trustee Gilchrist go against what the Province is trying to achieve. He is in a position of power and trust and should step down from that position immediately.”
Chief Marsden said the First Nations culture has been welcomed into KPRDSB schools for decades. The First Nations drum group and dancers have been invited on numerous occasions to perform. The Ojibwa language is taught as a second language at elementary and secondary schools in the area.
Chief Marsden and Council would like to commend the students for reporting the trustee’s comments. Chief Marsden would like to invite them to the annual Pow Wow at Roseneath Centennial Public School on June 10th, where students are able to celebrate culture with fellow students.
“We would like to recognize what these students did. The Province’s commitments speak to supporting our culture and reconciling relationships. These students made the decision to report the trustee’s comments. That is a true spirit of reconciliation.”
For more information, please contact
Chief James Marsden, Alderville First Nation at (905) 352-2011
More details on this story can be found here.