Not everyone is convinced. Crystal Semaganis, a Plains Cree activist from Saskatchewan who now lives in Temagami, Ont., was among those questioning the group when the Place d’Orléans announced the opening on Facebook on Sept. 5.
“Just because you all have money and bought a laminator doesn’t make you remotely Indigenous, and you’re certainly NOT Metis,” she wrote on Facebook. “Y’all are delusional! FRAUDS!”
Dumont replied: “No, little girl, YOU are the ones taking all the money, including our hard-earned tax money to get everything for free. You are the fraud … not us.”
In an interview, Semaganis said the comment struck her as racist. It is a stereotype that First Nations don’t pay taxes and “get everything for free” in Canada, and Dumont acknowledged that to CBC Indigenous.
“It is,” said Dumont. “It’s not my best time. I admit it.”
Jesus Christ. I highly encourage people to read the article. It’s fucking wild. Looks like a grift, and a grift run by disingenuous racists at that, from top to bottom, at the expense of the indigenous.
Damn, that really was a wild ride. I hope I never accidentally purchase anything from MNOC grifters.
I am not indigenous (though I would apparently qualify for MNOC membership!) so my opinion on who is and is not is probably not worth the bits it is printed on. It does not seem to me that simply having a distant ancestor somewhere back in time gives you the right to make such a claim, especially if you did not grow up with related traditions to link you to it. A vague family story or 23&Me result does not change anything about your cultural identity.
If they want to cosplay, that’s disrespectful, but it’s whatever at the end of the day; they only humiliate themselves. But making money from it? That’s fucking scumbag behavior of the lowest sort.
In addition to the blatant racism displayed by their prominent members.
Jesus Christ. I highly encourage people to read the article. It’s fucking wild. Looks like a grift, and a grift run by disingenuous racists at that, from top to bottom, at the expense of the indigenous.
Also, she retired from Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada. That’s crazy coming from a former public servant in that position!
Damn, that really was a wild ride. I hope I never accidentally purchase anything from MNOC grifters.
I am not indigenous (though I would apparently qualify for MNOC membership!) so my opinion on who is and is not is probably not worth the bits it is printed on. It does not seem to me that simply having a distant ancestor somewhere back in time gives you the right to make such a claim, especially if you did not grow up with related traditions to link you to it. A vague family story or 23&Me result does not change anything about your cultural identity.
If they want to cosplay, that’s disrespectful, but it’s whatever at the end of the day; they only humiliate themselves. But making money from it? That’s fucking scumbag behavior of the lowest sort.
In addition to the blatant racism displayed by their prominent members.
I suppose that is true, though if they had any shame they would not be doing what they are.