Racism is bad business

A recent study has shown that North Bay has a problem with racism, the North Bay and District Chamber of Commerce heard Thursday night.

Maurice Switzer and Don Curry made the presentation to the chamber on behalf of Debwewin, a three city anti-racism initiative that studies discrimination and racism in Northeastern Ontario. The three cities are Timmins, Sault Ste. Marie and North Bay. All three cities were surveyed and yielded similar results.

The word “Debwewin” is Ojibway, and means truth or to speak from the heart.

In the study for North Bay, 110 aboriginal people were surveyed. Seventy per cent of the people surveyed said they had seen episodes of discrimination, and 45 per cent said they have experienced racism first hand.

“Discrimination against native people is wide spread,” Maurice Switzer, media monitoring coordinator for Debwewin, said.

Switzer explained that the Native people surveyed believe that they are looked down upon because of tax exemptions associated with the Native status card. Switzer believes that this is noticeable in stores in Northeastern Ontario.

“What we’ve got here is a customer service issue,” Switzer said.

Switzer told the chamber that employees in North Bay are more likely to “keep an eye on” people of a different race. Switzer explained that businesses in North Bay should “make sure current customers are happy,” before they go looking for new ones.

A report was drafted which included eight recommendations designed to help fix the problem of discrimination.

Switzer emphasized the second recommendation which states that the report be delivered to the “MP, MPP, mayor, Chamber of Commerce, North Bay Labor Council, school board directors of education, college president, hospital directors, police chief, Ontario Provincial Police, judges, Children’s Aid Society and other social service agencies, aboriginal organizations, ministerial association and other relevant groups.”

Dewewin’s findings were not all negative.

“Whites and Natives are both happy to live in North Bay,” Switzer said.

“I don’t believe that Canada or North Bay is full of redneck bigots.”

Throughout Switzer’s presentation, his message became quite clear.

“Regardless of color, background or spirituality, everyone should be treated like family.”

For more information on the Debwewin report visit: www.debwewin.ca.