Eastern Door Volume 7 Number 2

Volume 7 Number 2

February 6, 1998

Club charged with discrimination
Mohawk man denied entrance to St. Laurent street bar
By: Tom Dearhouse

Twenty-three year old Chad Diabo is used to a few stares and whispered comments now and then about his distinctive Mohawk haircut, even on the reserve. But being turned away from a St. Laurent street nightclub because he "wouldn't mix in well" with the crowd has made him mad and he's filed a complaint with the Quebec Human Rights Commission (QHRC).

Diabo was part of a Saturday night crowd lined up for over 90 minutes to get into the Wax Lounge at 3481 St. Laurent Street. Conversing with the friendly doorman who was sizing up potential customers, Diabo was ushered into the foyer, almost ready to go upstairs and meet friends inside.

However, the manager, Mr. Tamaras, sent a message via the doorman that Diabo wouldn't mix in well with the crowd, and so he was turned away.

"I decided to make a complaint right then, not start a fight or anything," Diabo said. "It's a business, and I didn't want to hurt the workers, so I took a cab home. The incident made me mad because I've worked on anti-racism issues and it came back in my face."

Some establishments in Montreal have doormen to select their clientele. Recently, the Gazette did a feature about 'exclusive' clubs and their employees, including doormen. The article says doormen will let in the most attractive female clientele and therefore the men will follow.

Diabo pointed out he was adhering to the dress code with dress shirt and shoes, but having a Mohawk haircut (exposed scalp with hair down the middle) may have played a factor.

Diabo said technically there weren't any witnesses because he was brought inside for a time, but a friend of a friend was also waiting in line and he wasn't allowed entry either.

The Quebec Human Rights Commission (QHRC) is investigating the January 17 incident and have said it will take two weeks. The regional office on McGill Ave., has assigned case worker, Jocelyn Gerard, to the file.

Diane Fecteau of the QHRC explained that a person who wants to file a complaint will explain their circumstance in detail. An objective body determines the validity of the complaint, and assesses the continuation of proceedings until both parties are satisfied.

A report is issued to both complainant and respondent, whoever it may be, a union representative, band council or store manager.

It's considered a legal document, and if there is no settlement through negotiations with the QHRC's help, cases have been known to go through the appeals process and on to the Supreme Court of Canada.

Diabo said, "I would be satisfied with an apology and entry into the club."

Most recently, Diabo worked eight months in Toronto as a youth intern at TG Magazine, tackling anti-racism issues in the Asian, black and minority communities. He's been with TG on and off for three years. Diabo has also worked for the Montreal Native Friendship Center as an urban referral worker, assisting Native people in their challenges of living in the city.

CHRC mission

The Canadian Human Rights Commission's mission statement is:

Every individual should have an equal opportunity with other individuals to make for himself or herself the life that he or she is able and wishes to have, consistent with his or her duties and obligations as a member of society.

The CHRC conducts investigations and resolves complaints of discrimination in organizations under federal jurisdiction. Across Canada are provincial commissions to handle complaints in private businesses, restaurants, etc. The Quebec office number is (514) 496-2932.

The CHRC provides public education, training and development consultation regarding the impact of legislation on employment systems. And it undertakes research into Human Rights Legislation and Case Law.

Under the Canadian Human Rights Act it is against the law for any employer or provider of service that falls within federal jurisdiction, that is, government offices, chartered banks, Crown corporations, and telecommunication companies, to make unlawful distinctions based on the following prohibited grounds: Race, sex (including pregnancy and childbirth), national or ethnic origin, marital status, colour, family status, religion, pardoned conviction, age, physical or mental disability (including dependence on alcohol or drugs) and sexual orientation.

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6000 pies have to go
By: Tom Dearhouse

Frozen bread dough and 6000 frozen blueberry pies from Akwesasne all have to go, stated Marilyn Simpson, "even if it means blue lips for awhile."

Rita McComber, Marina Mayo and Simpson were distributing these goods all day Thursday from the Garage behind Doda's Tickle Trunk. It will be open Friday or until all the stuff is gone.

Akwesasne has been very generous, last week it was diapers and baby food, this week pies and bread, Simpson said. Still they don't have the stockpile to consistently deliver food packages twice a month as per their food bank plans. Six boxes of canned goods were evident, but more are needed.

The women have 18 bulk containers of spices they don't quite know how to distribute fairly. Simpson said they may contact Sun Youth for an exchange of some type. Milk and eggs will be needed for families.

The uncertainty of what food may come in means the women rely on radio announcements and word of mouth to ensure food moves quickly to families.

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Home Delivery
Baby didn't wait for ambulance
By: Tom Dearhouse

You could say Kathleen Knockwood's sixth child couldn't wait to come out into the world because an eight pound baby boy was born at home 1:10 a.m., just minutes before an ambulance crew arrived.

Matters were well taken in hand by proud father Rocky Curotte who assisted in his second delivery. Their three year old, Frank Brandon, was born in the couple's Chateauguay apartment with no complications in delivery.

"Thank the Creator there were no complications either time," Curotte said. While holding the baby's feet up, Curotte gave a little slap on the bum to force a breath, and a syringe cleared up the nose and mouth airway.

The ambulance crew of Arnold Lazare and Dwaine White, told to hurry up as they were driving to the location, found mother and baby doing fine on the living room sofa.

Lazare, who has delivered two babies in Montreal while working for Urgences Sante, said this one was a surprise. Ambulance training books are fond of stating there is usually enough time to transport to hospital.

"In the ambulance service, it's far better to help bring in new life, and I find that rewarding."

Speaking from her hospital room Thursday afternoon, Knockwood said her due date was February 9, and to her, the pregnancy "felt long." She admits being anxious -"wanting to get it over with."

And describing Rocky, he was a little nervous but that's to be expected. She said. "He's not the type of person to get overly excited." Her and as yet unnamed "baby Curotte" may come home Friday.

Kathleen Knockwood has Carradine, 22, Jamie Lee 13, James Richard, 8, Frank Brandon, 3 and Anthony Joseph, 2. The births have been routine, there was one Cesarean section, and the doctors have said she's not known for a fast delivery.

Congratulations to all.

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Editorial

Government response to Royal Commission not enough
By: Joe Deom, The Eastern Door

The recent efforts by the federal government to excuse itself for the pain and agony inflicted on our people by the imposition of the Residential School system falls far short of an official apology and the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples.

Editorial comments in the mainstream press have recognized the reluctance of government to apologize officially and the press has criticized the government severely; but not quite severely enough. Their editorial comments have been tempered with the reminder that although these offenses have been perpetrated on our people, "the residential schools were established with the best of intentions, given the times."

Bull. The press has failed to accept the fact that these schools were established with the firm intention of removing the essence of who we are from our people. Our children were deliberately removed from their parents in the most formative and vulnerable years of their lives, when children learn to be part of a family and in turn learn how to parent.

The process was simply an act of genocide. Many will withdraw from the use of the "G" word because "My God, this is Canada." Well, if it looks and smells like genocide, so it must be.

According to the Convention of the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide; 1948, which is international law, genocide is defined, in part, as: causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; deliberately inflicting on a group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; and forcibly transferring children of the group to another group. Canada's Residential School policy fits these descriptions and was practiced when the Convention was in force.

While the physical and sexual abuse of our children was a crime against the Canadian Criminal Code, the crime of genocide is a crime against humanity. Canada should be responsible for the complete and total cost of reparations for this crime.

In all their magnanimity, the government has earmarked $350 million for the "healing" of this great harm. Far less than what was recommended by the Royal Commission and $150 million less than the $500 million Canada paid for cancelling a helicopter contract.

It appears that Canada does not want to recognize the magnitude of the damage they have done.

It will be interesting to learn how much of this money will be spent on non-Native psychiatrists, psychologists and feel good programs and how much will be spent on our own methods of healing that will get to the heart of the problem.

The government and the churches that have spent money, time and effort to drive our language and culture from our people should be made accountable for this. Aside from the "healing" money, funds should be made available to establish immersion classes for our adults on a large scale. These students, as adults and with families to provide for, should be paid a weekly salary for attending these classes. This is not unheard of, the government pays its employees to become bilingual.

There are many adults who are very close to becoming speakers if given the chance to sharpen their language skills. These people in turn could become the teachers for the ever-growing demand for relearning our language.

Our children who are in Mohawk Immersion need adult reinforcement of the language both inside and outside of the home and school. Re-establishment of our languages would go a long way to returning the self-esteem to many of our people, and in so doing heal a big part of the damage done by the residential school system.

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