As the Canadian House of Commons debates whether to repeal or reform the blatantly racist Indian Act, the Canadian government is simultaneously mounting retaliation against Indian activist Cindy Blackstock, whose organization, First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada, in 2007 filed a complaint against Ottawa to end racial discrimination in government policy that provides 22% less for children on First Nations reserves. Instead of funding the gap in benefits for Indian children, Ottawa began spying on Blackstock, following her around, reading her e-mails, and barring her from meetings.
As the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal prepares to hear allegations of government retaliation toward Blackstock in February, Aboriginal Peoples Television Network is preparing to televise the hearing. While Ottawa lost in its attempt to prevent the hearing being televised, I expect the Canadian Department of Aboriginal Affairs and the Department of Justice will step up their illegal spying on the native children’s advocate.
Such is the nature of modern states living in denial about their institutionalized racism.