Chief Picard believes Mr Dufour’s recent public appearance undermines efforts for reconciliation and rapprochement between First Nations and the rest of the community, particularly those of François Legault’s government.
We demand that he resign from his position as deputy. “I find it hard to believe that Mr. Dufour’s comments reflect the general public’s opinion of his riding,” said Mr. Picard.
Let’s recall that last Monday, during a meeting of the municipal council, Pierre Dufour publicly defended the representatives of the town of Val-d’Or. He deplored the way Mayor Celine Brindamour was handling the problems of homelessness and crime in the inner city.
Mr Dufour also denounced a report by Radio-Canada’s Enquete program on Indigenous women. He also criticized the Viens Commission, which is responsible for investigating relationships between indigenous people and certain public services.
“Pierre Dufour’s comments take us back to 2019,” continues Ghislain Picard. In 2019, after the apology [aux Premières Nations et aux Inuit] pronounced by the Prime Minister [François] Legault, it just rubs off on those excuses.
Ghislain Picard, Chief of the First Nations Quebec-Labrador Congregation. (archive photo)
Photo: Radio Canada / Nelly Albérola
Pierre Dufour defends himself
On the phone, MP Dufour denies fueling the racism of certain citizens, as accused by the leader of Lac-Simon’s Anishnabe nation, Lucien Wabanonik.
Pierre Dufour apologizes to those hurt by his comments. These are sensitive files, he emphasizes. If my remarks have touched the sensibility of these people, I apologize, because that was not my aim, but to end the problem that we have had to deal with in Val-d’Or for some time.
Mr Dufour added that he wanted to address the issues of homelessness and crime in downtown Val-d’Or in particular. He believes these issues cannot be reduced to issues of racism or First Nations relations.
“It’s safe and certain that when we appear in the media like this, we sometimes run the risk of being a little too emotional and saying things that might go unnoticed,” he says. All of this dynamic is about keeping people safe [par rapport à la situation du centre-ville de Val-d’Or et au militantisme de citoyens].
Pierre Dufour also puts into perspective his comments on the Viens Commission, which he allegedly does not oppose. “It’s not because I mentioned an element of the Viens Commission that I’m not in action with it,” he points out.
What the Viens Commission wants is action for the well-being of communities [autochtones] and with non-native communities. “I am in perfect symbiosis with this element,” assures Mr. Dufour.
He said last Monday that the Viens Commission had concluded that Val-d’Or police officers were treating Aboriginal people racistly by handing out more speeding tickets to the homeless.
“What we’re talking about now [pour le centre-ville de Val-d’Or]These are situations of aggression and vandalism that come from different people. And let’s stop saying it’s just native people. Not only are there aborigines, there are non-natives as well. »
– A quote from Pierre Dufour, MNA for Abitibi-Est
Lucien Wabanonik, chief of the Anishnabe nation of Lac-Simon. (archive photo)
Photo: Radio Canada / Melanie Picard
Not enough for Lac-Simon
Lucien Wabanonik, who is also calling for Pierre Dufour’s resignation, believes that the first statements on this have come too little and too late.
The Lac-Simon boss is referring here to a recent Facebook post by Mr Dufour, in which he explains under which he was speaking [le coup de] Emotion during the Val-d’Or municipal council meeting on May 15th. Mr Wabanonik also considers Pierre Dufour’s recent apology insufficient. The damage has already been done, he argues.
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First of all, I don’t think he should have said those words, says Mr Wabanonik. When you are experiencing important and intense emotions, it is better to take a step or two back and shut up. Perhaps that is what Mr Dufour should have done instead of engaging in such a speech.
“I was very shocked to hear something like that again. It’s really absurd. It is frustrating even to hear an elected official at government level take such a position and use this language. It’s really hard to understand and hear. »
– A quote from Lucien Wabanonik, chief of the Anishnabe nation of Lac-Simon
Chiefs Picard and Wabanonik, in addition to Pierre Dufour’s resignation, are calling on the Quebec government to break the silence and publicly denounce the member’s public appearance for Abitibi-Est.
“It’s being taken lightly, as if it were trivial,” Mr. Wabanonik continues, comparing Mr. Dufour’s recent comments to his earlier statements on the caribou. In his eyes, the rights of indigenous peoples seem to be something that is not important.