'Part of my culture': Cree woman refused service at Sask. bar for traditional face tattoo
CBC
A Cree woman says she was kicked out of a Prince Albert bar because of the cultural tattoo on her chin. Sara Carriere-Burns is from James Smith Cree Nation in Saskatchewan and lives in Prince Albert. On March 25, she joined family members at the Prince Albert Brewing Company (PABCo) tavern. Carriere-Burns said a server took her order of a diet coke and water, but did not return with the beverages. Instead, a man — who later identified himself as the manager — came to the table.
"He was like, 'I'm sorry, I don't want to be the one to have to tell you this, but you need to leave our establishment'," Carriere-Burns recalled on Tuesday.
"When I asked what the issue was, he said, 'We don't allow facial tattoos'."
Carriere-Burns said she mentioned it was a cultural tattoo and then asked to speak with someone higher up. When the man went to get an owner, she asked her Goddaughter to record the follow-up interaction on her phone.LISTEN | Sara Carriere-Burns shares her experience of being denied service at a Prince Albert pub due to her face tattoo:
In that video, shared later on Facebook, the camera is pointed towards the family member while Carriere-Burns says the voice of owner Robert McLeod is heard speaking to her.
"The number one rule in our dress code is no facial tattoos," McLeod said after being asked about the policy.
Carriere-Burns responded that the traditional tattoo is "part of my culture," at which point McLeod doubled down.
"I don't care," he replied. "Put makeup on and cover it up. It's not allowed in our bar. I don't care what your culture is, if you look at our dress code, the number one rule is no facial tattoos."
The owner is heard telling Carriere-Burns she is welcome to return once she has covered the tattoo with makeup.
"I just don't want to see it," he is heard saying, before adding he sees people with "shit written all over their faces" everyday. Carrier-Burns says she left the establishment shortly after.
Carriere-Burns told CBC while she has dealt with discrimination and racism before, this situation involved someone using power and authority to silence her.
It was also the first time her cultural tattoo received negative feedback.
"I was really in shock. Like I couldn't believe the way he was speaking to me and I couldn't understand why he was so angry," she said.
"I've never been in a place before where I couldn't say what I needed to say ... he just didn't want any part of it."
Hundreds of P.E.I. parents can't find child-care spaces, especially for infants. The provincial government says expanding those spots remains a top priority — and it recognizes the concern.
An Alberta judge says a referendum proposal on Alberta separating from Canada goes against Charter and and Treaty rights, in a decision given less than 24 hours after the provincial government introduced legislation that would have ended the court proceeding.
The architect of Alberta's politician recall legislation says it was never meant to be used as a political weapon, but as an "ultimate tool of accountability" if a politician engages in illegal or unethical behaviour.
The Government of Saskatchewan has introduced its long-promised involuntary treatment legislation on the final day of the fall sitting.
The Law Society of Ontario has suspended the licence of Deepak Paradkar, one of seven Canadians arrested in connection with alleged drug lord Ryan Wedding’s cocaine smuggling ring.
London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) is getting rid of unlimited mental health benefits for staff, blaming ballooning costs and former administrators for implementing it without proper due diligence or oversight.
Netflix has agreed to buy Warner Bros. Discovery's TV and film studios and streaming division for $72 billion US, a deal that would hand control of one of Hollywood's most prized and oldest assets to the streaming pioneer that has upended the media industry.
CBC Calgary kicks off its annual Make the Season Kind campaign this morning at Fratello Coffee Roasters.
CBC Newfoundland and Labrador is kicking off its annual holiday campaign, helping to raise money to support local food banks.
If all goes according to plan, at 6 a.m. AT on Saturday people working at the IWK Health Centre will become the test case for a generational change to Nova Scotia’s health-care system.
One month after Prime Minister Mark Carney announced what he called "generational" military spending, New Brunswick’s defence ecosystem is on high alert.
Miranda Mirlycourtois, 34, looks directly at the camera and makes a confession.
Saskatoon city hall says police spending is projected to be $2.6 million over budget this year. That pushes the city into a $1.2-million deficit position, according to a report that will be considered by city council next week.