CPTnet
July 9, 2004

ASUBPEESCHOSEEWAGONG: Healing needed

by Matt Schaaf and Lisa Martens

An Asubpeeschoseewagong man in the nearby town of Kenora described
generational racism to CPT (Christian Peacemaker Team) member Matt Schaaf:

"White youths beat native people when they are teenagers, then they grow
up to become mayors, business people, city councilors, police officers. And
their kids, the next generation of civic leaders, do the same."

Racist attacks in the Kenora area have happened in recent decades both to
people who live on Kenora's streets and those who live on reserves and come
into town. "I have a real, deep-in-my stomach, deadly fear," one Grassy
Narrows woman told CPTer Lisa Martens. "I'm scared for my kids." In the
late 1970s, the woman's father and cousin had stopped on the road from
Kenora to Grassy Narrows to help four strangers with their car. Her father
bent into his trunk to get his jack. The next thing he knew, he was waking
up, badly beaten, with the cousin behind him in the back seat. Those who
attacked him had left the car running and plugged the exhaust pipe. He
managed to open his car door before blacking out again.

The criminals beat and raped the cousin. She died. The family reported the
incident to the police but have heard of no follow-up.

One hears little about violence between white and Anishnaabe people on the
streets of Kenora. The Anishnaabe displaced from their lands who live a
life on the street become a target for beatings. Community Organizers and
NGO workers identify a youth gang, the Kenora Indian Bashers, as one of the
aggressors.

On April 30, 2004, a local business owner found Stewart Smith in a pool of
blood behind the United Church in Kenora. Beaten nearly to death in the
early morning, he was rushed to Winnipeg where he lay in a coma for
weeks. CPTers and a group of Anishnaabe and white citizens of Kenora
gathered in the alley on May 14, 2003 to pray for Stewart and his
attacker(s.) Police have not identified a suspect.

An elder prayed for Stewart's healing in the Ojibway language, and others
around the circle added their prayers and commitment to addressing violence.
The elder concluded his prayer hoping that the attacker would realize what
he had done. The group sang "Amazing Grace" and finished with the song "O
Healing River" which includes the lyrics, "O healing river, send down your
waters and wash the blood from off the sand." One of Stewart's aunts then
spoke about seeing her nephew's wounds filled with sand and blood from the
gravel alleyway where he had lain all night.

The Kenora Police Service (KPS) and Ontario Provincial Police are jointly
investigating the beating. In regards to deterring violence against
Anishnaabe people in Kenora, KPS Deputy Chief Dan Jorgensen reported, "The
police are doing all we can do." The Anishnaabe Coalition for Peace and
Justice, with which CPT is involved, is planning to take more responsibility
for what goes on Kenora's streets.