By Mike Stimpson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Thunder Bay Source THUNDER BAY \u2014 Ontario\u2019s Indigenous affairs minister was condescending and racist in the way he handled questions from the province\u2019s only First Nations MPP last week, according to Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler. The grand chief is \u201cvery right\u201d in that assessment, Kiiwetinoong MPP Sol Mamakwa said Wednesday in an interview with Newswatch. Mamakwa, a Kingfisher Lake First Nation member, said Greg Rickford\u2019s response to questions in a budget estimates meeting at Queen\u2019s Park was \u201creally patronizing, very demeaning.\u201d Rickford\u2019s answers had a \u201ccolonial\u201d tone and were \u201calso undermining my political authority as a First Nations MPP speaking on treaty rights,\u201d Mamakwa said. \u201cIt can be interpreted by many, especially the First Nations community, as reflecting a systemic… <\/p>\n
By Mike Stimpson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Thunder Bay Source THUNDER BAY \u2014 Ontario\u2019s Indigenous affairs minister was condescending and racist in the way he handled questions from the province\u2019s only First Nations MPP last week, according to Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler. The grand chief is \u201cvery right\u201d in that assessment, Kiiwetinoong MPP Sol Mamakwa said Wednesday in an interview with Newswatch. Mamakwa, a Kingfisher Lake First Nation member, said Greg Rickford\u2019s response to questions in a budget estimates meeting at Queen\u2019s Park was \u201creally patronizing, very demeaning.\u201d Rickford\u2019s answers had a \u201ccolonial\u201d tone and were \u201calso undermining my political authority as a First Nations MPP speaking on treaty rights,\u201d Mamakwa said. \u201cIt can be interpreted by many, especially the First Nations community, as reflecting a systemic... <\/p>\n