Quesnel mayor’s wife accused by Lhtako Dene Nation of handing out Residential School denial books

Shock and disappointment are being felt after a First Nation in the Quesnel area alleged that the mayor’s wife of that city has been handing out books that deny cultural genocide by the Residential School System.

In a letter penned to the mayor and council by the Lhtako Dene Nation Tuesday, the Nation says the book questions the existence of Residential Schools and is a slap in the face to the people of their Nation.

Nation Chief Clifford LeBrun shared that the mayor’s wife’s behaviour is hurtful.

“From our point of view, … if they need our help, we’re there for them in whatever way possible,” he said. “I don’t know what the city plans on doing on their end, but we want to make sure that the relationship isn’t damaged beyond repair because of the actions of one person.”

LeBrun says he can’t help but question how the mayor wouldn’t have known about his wife’s actions.

“There’s no way he could go without knowing that this was happening, and just let it happen. He’s the mayor of quesnel, for Pete’s sake,” he said.

“He should have at least awareness of what’s happening in his own house. He’s running our town.”

LeBrun says the Nation is now calling for amends, by the city and mayor’s wife, to be made.

“This sort of stuff has got to stop. We’ve done so much work and reconciliation to get to this point with the city, and other organizations, and other government levels. And it’s just heartbreaking to see someone trying to sabotage that,” he said.

Quesnel Coun. Scott Elliott tells CityNews the letter was addressed by council Tuesday night.

“[I’m] really disappointed,” he said. “I’ve never left a meeting feeling so disturbed before, and I’ve been doing this for quite a while now, and with all the progress we’ve made with First Nations.”

During the meeting, Mayor Ron Paull addressed the letter and council’s need to “reaffirm the terms of Memorandum of Understanding between the City and Nation,” Tuesday night.

“It is my wife that has the book, and to be honest, I haven’t even opened it,” he said. “I’ve looked at the cover, but I have got no interest in looking at it.”

Paull shared that he has accepted the Nation’s invitation to meet with Elders.

“I look upon it as a welcome opportunity for all of us … together, to understand and respect one another’s views and aspirations even more deeply,” he said.

LeBrun says those who went through the Residential School System will have to start over the healing process.

–With files from Robyn Crawford