Alternative summit on racism in Winnipeg draws hundreds

Armed with anti-racism posters, hundreds of people gathered at Winnipeg's Oodena Celebration Circle on Wednesday evening to talk about the city's racial divide.

The event, called Our Summit, was led by community activists who felt the mayor's forum, One: The Mayor's National Summit on Racial Inclusion, was excluding some important local voices.

The mayor's forum was being held at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, while the alternative Our Summit was a short walk away at The Forks.

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After a ceremonial drum session, Our Summit organizers we're quick to underline the gathering was not in protest.

"This is not an event that is intended to compete with the other event that's happening a stone's throw away from here," local activist Michael Champagne told the crowd.

"This an event intended to provide opportunity and space for Winnipeggers who perhaps were not available to pay the $50 or register in time for the other racial inclusion event."

Guest speakers opened the discussion on racism in the city, sharing personal stories and highlighting issues dividing indigenous and non-indigenous Winnipeggers. 

"We really need to create a better understanding of the history that Canada has had with it's indigenous people," organizer Lenard Monkman told the crowd, which included Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger and Maclean's writer Nancy MacDonald who crowned the city Canada's racism capital.

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"We're not angry, we're not going after people, we're not sticking it to anybody but what we're actually trying to do is create a better understanding. The whole reason we are here today is because of the treaty relationship in Canada."

The forum then turned interactive. People were asked to walk around and talk to someone they didn't know and hear each other's personal stories. 

People then broke off into groups to exchange thoughts on social issues in the city such as missing and murdered indigenous women, food security, and the child welfare system.

"I think it's important as a white settler to listen to indigenous people, learn about the land that we're on and the laws of the land, indigenous laws, and I want my children to know that as well," said Lisa Stepnuk, who attended the summit with her three kids. 

"I think that we can see the racial divide in terms of poverty and the barriers that people face, indigenous people but also refugees, newcomers, and I think that as white people we need to listen very carefully and for a long time to understand them and our privilege here."

It was these kinds of discussions 19-year-old Opichee Akuash applauded.

"I feel good knowing that people are being aware of the situation that racism isn't just a thing, it affects a lot of people in a lot of ways, it hurts people a lot," he said.

Akuash, from Ontario's Walpole Island First Nation, says he experienced racism from elementary through high school.

"I was bullied for the way I looked because I didn't look like regular kids because they said I had brown skin and black hair. I was negated from a lot of the, I guess, popular groups. I kind of grew a lot of anger over the years from it," he said. 

"I'm starting to realize it's not their fault — people are put in that position, people teach their kids that and some of the kids don't know that it's racism. It's a lot of ignorance, I'd say."

He believes racism can be turned around in time, with more awareness and discussion like the summit. 

Daniel Highway, a 67-year-old residential school survivor born in Brochet, Man., agrees.

"I like the involvement of the kids. I think they're getting activated, motivated and you know starting to take the issues seriously," he said. 

"I think if they learn to work together they can make a lot of changes. That's the key, you know? [You] can't do things alone."

As the conversations continued, and a rainbow formed over head organizers and attendees alike, Stepnuk says what was most encouraging was the event's turn out. 

"It means that people do care. I think we're in for a lot of good heart warming and also uncomfortable conversations. And we're going to have to be ready for it be uncomfortable and also very rewarding," she said.

Mayor responds to city summit criticism

Following the gathering, some of the organizers walked to the Canadian Museum of Human Rights to speak outside the doors of the mayor's summit.

While Mayor Brian Bowman would not comment on the gathering outside, he did shoot down criticism that the city's summit was excluding local voices.

"This has been an open and inclusive exercise right from the very the beginning. This is a free venue, it's live streaming online and we want to be inclusive as possible and that's what we're doing," he said.

"I welcome all views and all venues where ideas are being shared. That's exactly the type of spark I was hoping to have in the community — where we would have folks sharing their ideas."