The Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan (MCoS) condemned recent attacks on people of Asian heritage. Recently, a 15-year old Saskatoon boy was attacked when riding his bike. The aggressor verbally assaulted, physically attacked and blamed him for spreading the virus.
Physical, verbal and online attacks have taken place in Vancouver and elsewhere. These examples of interpersonal racism are fuelled by blaming the Chinese for the global COVID-19 pandemic.
The World Health Organization (WHO) deliberately named the virus COVID-19 without reference to the original location or ethnicity of human transmission. It is clear that it can and does infect all people. Political leaders have a responsibility to provide accurate information in ways that do not fuel conspiracy theories or racism.
Fear is a natural response when faced with a threat. In this case, COVID-19 is dangerous to our physical, mental, and economic well-being. We have a tendency to blame hardship and insecurity on someone or something. The anti-Asian racism is a clear example of scapegoating. The rise in xenophobia and racism are expressions of common stereotypes and prejudices. They have an impact on the target’s physical and/or mental health, but also affect the sense of belonging and an individual’s ability to contribute to the community and their human rights.
COVID-19 is exposing vulnerabilities due to systemic inequalities in employment, wealth distribution, housing, health, education, food security, justice, etc.
We see this in the outbreak in La Loche and the nearby Clear Water Dene Nation, as well as in some of the online reactions. Some residents in northern Saskatchewan have been denied access to booking medical services in other parts of the province, despite not having been near areas of higher infection.
In contrast, we see musician Eliza Doyle mobilizing people in southern Saskatchewan to supply masks, money and supplies based on her experiences working in northern communities. This is a positive example of solidarity.
We need to understand systemic racism in the context of ongoing colonialism. The recent controversy about a sun dance on a First Nation reserve in Saskatchewan demonstrates the importance of understanding colonial spread of disease and the banning of traditional ceremonies. The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) offered a clear position on Indigenous rights to make decisions. MCoS always encourages dialogue based in respectful relationships.
It is important to recognize the physical features used to identify race represent an insignificant amount of our DNA. Race is a social, rather than a genetic construct. Race theory was created to benefit some by oppressing and exploiting others.
The Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan shared information on four forms of racism: cultural, systemic/institutional, interpersonal and internalized. All forms of racism are damaging to individuals and cost communities through lost contributions from those who are marginalized with deep social and economic costs. Online hate, verbal abuse, systemic inequities are a reminder that racism is real. Additional work is needed to recognize and reject it.
According to Rhonda Rosenberg, Executive Director, Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan, “The more we see that we are ‘all in this together’ during the crisis brought on by COVID-19 and beyond, we can build respectful, equitable and lasting connections as the foundation for our culturally diverse and harmonious future.”
The Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan joined the world annually in recognizing March 21 as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. This served as a time to demonstrate the commitment and leadership of governments, institutions, and individuals to foster respect, equality and diversity. MCoS provincial campaign features the theme Racism: Recognize it. Reject it!
The MCoS public education and engagement campaign includes community conversations, anti-racism Youth Leadership Workshops designed for high school students to engage with peers as they work together in interactive activities to explore identity, power, privilege, colonialism and its legacies, reconciliation, racism and discrimination.
