More than racial slurs: Nunatsiavut government to tackle systemic racism

Samantha Saksagiak, at 19 years old, is the youngest participant in a Nunatsiavut-led forum on systemic racism.

In Happy Valley-Goose Bay, participants from Indigenous communities, along with non-Indigenous managers and workers from various public systems such as health care, education, and justice, shared their experiences with racism and suggested ways to eradicate it from these systems.

Saksagiak, who lives in Nain, spoke at last week's two-day forum about the racism she faced in high school and later in university.

"It's very emotional ... having to talk about your own personal experiences," Saksagiak said. "And how racism affects your whole community and your family definitely hits home.

"I've been told that because I'm Indigenous, I'm not good enough, that I'm not as educated as a white person."

She told participants the things she'd heard growing up — that, for instance, "the white way is the right way" — and said those messages eroded her self-esteem.

"I even felt ashamed to be Inuk because of how the system works and how it makes you feel, like you are less than … that you're not even a person. And it just really hurts my heart that I was made to feel that way."

Gerald Asivak, the Nunatsiavut minister of health and social development, says he too faced racism.

"I've experienced it," he said. "Living here and moving away, or even because of the colour of my skin, there might be perceptions or stereotypes because I am a Labrador Inuit."

In his role, Asivak often hears complaints about racism in health care, incidents that are sometimes covert and other times more direct.

"It's a sad reality that it's still happening in 2024," Asivak said.

"We have to continue lobbying, being heard, [actively] listening and calling out people, not only people, but systems, agencies, organizations. We have the right to feel safe. We need to end racism and this will help with that."

Hilary Fry, the Indigenous health relations manager with the Nunatsiavut government, says racism doesn't have to be racial slurs. It can also take on a more subtle form and become ingrained in a system.

"Our policies that shape practices are putting Inuit and other Indigenous folks at a disadvantage and I think to the historical context need to be at the forefront," Fry said.