Joint anti-racism resolution planned
Whitehorse and Dawson City will submit a joint anti-racism resolution for consideration at next month’s annual general meeting of the Association of Yukon communities (AYC).
Whitehorse and Dawson City will submit a joint anti-racism resolution for consideration at next month’s annual general meeting of the Association of Yukon communities (AYC).
City council voted at its Tuesday meeting to submit the resolution. Dawson council voted in favour at its meeting on March 31.
Each year, the AYC invites its members to submit resolutions they feel require the support of the entire membership.
The draft resolution acknowledges the historical and present-day racism and discrimination that threatens Yukon communities, says the administrative report provided to city council.
The resolution commits the AYC to providing its members with anti-racism and other related training and education on an annual basis.
It’s estimated it would cost $8,000 to provide anti-racism courses to elected officials and four staff members from each community.
The draft resolution encourages member communities to provide anti-racism education and training for elected officials, staff and volunteers that represent their communities, and to conduct a review of their bylaws and policies with an equity and inclusivity lens.
The resolution also encourages member communities to explore participation in the Canadian Coalition of Inclusive Municipalities.
The AYC meeting is scheduled for May 8 and will be held virtually.
Comments (10)
Up 5 Down 4
Bring back the Rocket Scientists! on Apr 21, 2021 at 11:49 am
Actually Woodcutter - People are not responsible for their own thoughts - They cannot be by weight of the shear volume of the incoming and outgoing sensory, neural traffic. You need to stop propagandizing on behalf of your Lefty-Liberal Puppet Masters.
We understand this, and we know this. Yes, I am a neuroscientist and yes I understand what I am saying, and yes I can back it up with evidence. Now you might think, and others might say, that’s a first! Now you might think that our submissions to this forum are contrary evidence to my assertions. They are not. They are selections from the many, many, other thoughts that we have on an ongoing basis. Our minds are always seeking out new sources of information without our conscious control and this is additive to the things we believe to be conscious thought.
This why our current struggles with identity politics, subjectivities over objectivity, form over content, are ripping society apart. Literally - People know not what they do.
What people are responsible for is their behaviour. But this does not mean that they are always in control of it.
It is thoughts like these, that you would thrust upon others, that are dangerous and violent. Because they contain malice whether intended or not. This applies to Liberals, Conservatives, and everyone!
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Woodcutter on Apr 20, 2021 at 8:44 am
Actually Mathew, each individual is responsible for their own thoughts.
To blame the media is a right wing cop out for folks with a weak mind. Take responsibility for yourself and you will empower yourself.
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Groucho d'North on Apr 16, 2021 at 10:08 am
Racism takes many forms. Speaking as a colonist, settler, non-native, old white guy. Let the new education begin.
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Snow Plow on Apr 16, 2021 at 9:52 am
Yes the times are a changing, regardless of how people like BJ feels we all know what this is about.
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A. Morel-Lee on Apr 16, 2021 at 9:22 am
At bonanzajoe - It will not be dealt with properly and honestly because the purpose of the issue would be revealed and the racism they claim to be addressing would disappear... It's not about racism... It is about “using” racism to achieve a desired ends... As you have rightly suggested!
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Skeptical on Apr 16, 2021 at 8:52 am
The only problem is that 'anti-racist' in the parlance of the social justice left doesn't mean what most people think it does. It doesn't mean 'don't treat people differently based on the colour of their skin' as the average person understands racism. It tends to mean 'you must subscribe to a set of beliefs about society and its structures and if you don't you're racist'. The 'training and education' they refer to also tends to mean teaching critical race theory as fact.
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North_of_60 on Apr 15, 2021 at 6:45 pm
Racists are the only people obsessed with 'racism'. Their obsession finds it everywhere. Surprised?
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Juniper Jackson on Apr 15, 2021 at 5:51 pm
Our race becomes an identifying factor. Some years ago, out for dinner with my family, my son said, "OMG, look at that East Indian girl. She is gorgeous". (and she was stunning). Today. That is considered a racist comment. Why didn't he say, the girl in the blue sweater, or the girl eating the chicken? He identified her by race. Is a racist only a racist if something is mean? I don't like drunks. I can't stand the smell of booze. Am I a racist for targeting people who are alcoholics?
People are products of experience. I equate alcohol with violence from my youth. Just stay away from me. In reality, very few alcoholics are violent out of their own zone. But, I carry that baggage. We carry those parents who were Archie Bunkers.
We are never going to stop people from being 'racist'. But, we can, and should stop them from acting on it. Our society has made racism acceptable by permitting jobs to go to, 'First Nation only", "TFWs, we will train you". By making exceptions, 'everyone knows Syrian's suffered war, they get first call on housing, they get their own hospital (BC and Ontario), we'll start teaching Arabic in the schools". The other guy is white, so he/she doesn't need anything. Suffering is suffering, poor is poor, hungry is hungry. That doesn't care what color you are or where you were born. If you are black and don't get the job, it's because you are black. If you are white and get the job, it's because you are white priviledged.
My opinion? If you are hungry, feed you. If you are homeless, provide shelter. If you are job hunting, blind hire. Everyone. Training and education, everyone. Disadvantaged? Who says? I know.. that's kind of a pie in the sky thinking. I know there are going to be people out there that don't care who they hurt, don't care what harm they are doing, don't have a shred of empathy. But, its a goal, that each can work on every day. At an AL anon meeting someone said, "hurt people, hurt people". Maybe that's where we start.
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Matthew on Apr 15, 2021 at 5:46 pm
LOL! Please, racism exists because of the media.. no one is born racist, it's taught.. and who controls your thoughts, that's right, the media.. oh don't forget, only straight white males are racist!!
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bonanzajoe on Apr 15, 2021 at 5:06 pm
So, who are the racists? That's what I would like to hear. If racism is going to be dealt with in any way at all, it has to be properly and honestly identified. But, forgive me for my pessimism, I don't see that happening.