Discussions

I've been born and raised in Brandon. I've seen others come & go. I've seen Brandon rise and fall to changes through the years. I've called Brandon home for years and years.  
 
I've read countless threads of others discussing my race. Making just wild statements.  
 
Whether that be how we need to help ourselves, we need to pay taxes, now it's the urban reserve.  
Apparently I can't get good service anywhere I go. I get treated so terribly and get disgusting looks. Sometimes the comments make me feel so small. I don't want to go out in public because I'm clearly being watched or profiled.  
 
I once was a proud community member of Brandon. Now I feel like an outsider.  
 
Just so you're all well aware.  
1) I pay taxes  
2) I've always held a job  
 
For some reason it feels better to explain myself than to be judged so terribly.  
 
I've heard and read thousands of racist comments in my life.  
This is my DAILY life for 28 years.

dictate how you feel about yourself or others. They are the small minded people who feel the need to make uneducated and hurtful comments to try and make themselves feel important. Good on you for working and making a life for you and yours please don't let the comments of few ignorant people bring you down, they are truly the ones who should feel like outsiders. If we all stick together against such remarks hopefully we can make this a better place for all.

Are many rude people everywhere. Hold your head high, and be proud of who you are. It is appalling how many stereotypes that I have heard about first Nations people. And while I have heard so many I have noticed these things about aboriginal people. They have the strongest family values of anyone I know. The admiration that they have for their elders is enviable. In your culture I am amazed by the strength that you find it within your families when you lose a loved one or there is a family crisis. I have also noticed pride in who they are and who their children are. Do not submit to the ignorance of a few vocal idiots. I am a white woman and I am saddened that you feel you need to be a shamed or hold your head down and please know that not everyone sees you the way stereo typical idiots do. Many see you as I do.

I guess I must take on a pretty good tan, because I have been mistaken as a First Nation person different times, the most recent was back in July.  
I had a bit of a mishap which left me with a smashed up nose and two real shiners, anyhow I was in Wallmart and a First Nations man came up and greeted me as a brother, which doesn't bother me at all because I believe we are all brothers/sisters.  
What he said to me left me both perplexed and impressed in a strange sort of way, his statement was very simple, "brother, tell me who did this to you, and I'll beat him up".  
The statement, to me, was sort of humorous, and I explained how me injuries were self inflicted, and we both had a chuckle. Sometimes it's odd in life, when you can relate to racism, without even being part of that race, it does leave an impression when you hear for the first time, "hey he is white", which I heard once while skinny dipping. The tan line only went so far, and then I was white.

The colour of your skin does not define you. It's incredible to see the amount of people who assume if your skin is darker and eyes are brown, you are first nation. There are many people out there who hide their true identity through blue eyes and blond hair. My goodness, so judgemental. Perhaps if people were happier they wouldn't feel the need to shake up and lash out. Get educated, be kind, it's much healthier for everyone. We are all just people.

Racism is everywhere no matter where you live and towards all peoples whether Aboriginal or non Aboriginal. Those that are Aboriginal are just as racist towards others as they are towards their own.  
 
I am Aboriginal, female, single parent, working (multiple jobs), and have lived in Brandon for 30 yrs. I lived in a variety of places in both Manitoba and Saskatchewan as I was growing up. And no, I was not in foster care.. hahhaa see that is an assumption as well. The people who raised me both worked and chose to move a lot as it was common with their profession. With this background I have experienced a whole range of racism and peoples who are kind and caring from each community that I have lived in.  
 
Yes Brandon is racist. It is up to the individual if they are going to allow it to rule them or if they will rise and overcome it. I raised my children to treat everyone the same and if for whatever reason they don't like someone just to walk away. With that being said I know that the words sound nice but that is a very hard thing to do and something to strive for. The less energy we give negative behavior the less it affects our own feelings, thoughts, and behavior.  
 
I can choose to react to racism and be a part of it or I can go on with my day and be who I want to be.

And make a difference in even just one person's life.  
 
Bravo to you!

As a Metis I know racism on both sides. I've been too brown to be white and too white to be brown. In fact to be completely honest I feel more accepted as a Caucasian than I do as a Saulteaux.  
People forget that racism doesn't begin and end with the majority.

are also at the receiving end of racism, just not widely reported or accepted. I've also heard that being white isn't a race, yet being black or brown is.

Degenerate108 said "As a Metis I know racism on both sides. I've been too brown to be white and too white to be brown. In fact to be completely honest I feel more accepted as a Caucasian than I do as a Saulteaux.   People forget that racism doesn't begin and end with the majority. "

and I don't know about you but the biggest offenders for me were family members, on each side.

Johnbisonbear said "    Degenerate108 said "As a Metis I know racism on both sides. I've been too brown to be white and too white to be brown. In fact to be completely honest I feel more accepted as a Caucasian than I do as a Saulteaux.   People forget that racism doesn't begin and end with the majority. " and I don't know about you but the biggest offenders for me were family members, on each side. "

Yep, family can be pretty brutal for sure. Actually this thread got me thinking, I think the worst instance was having an aboriginal woman loudly announce in a crowded store that "Not all of us were lazy, some of us work" in my direction implying I was watching them for theft at my job.  
I snapped and shot back that the "Us" she was referring to i:ncluded me. She rolled her eyes and halfheartedly apologized after the fact but I was beyond offended.  
I've been called a sellout, a traitor,a half breed, a white boy, a wagon burner, and a dirty Indian in my life, but that word "us" implying I wasn't a part probably bothered me most.

It is unfortunate that this happens but it has for years and to all walks of life and not one should feel better or worst about it !  
It is generated by thousands of thing some pathetic and some who leave people shaking there head to put it politely !  
not that it matters much but i am polish and we were persecuted by many so as i said we have all been what i put lightly as picked on !  
To msindependant88 it is sad to hear that it drives you to become a recluse and to artsylikes i believe you are right people need to be happier in their lives , there is good and bad at every street corner but if we were happier maybe the small sarcastic comments wouldnt bother people so much .

is found everywhere no matter your skin colour, nationality, language, customs, etc.. It has also existed all through human history and all around the world.  
 
https://www.adl.org/racism  
 
There's also no standard definition for what a race is.  
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_(human_classification)  
 
Edited by Trevor B, 2017-09-05 22:51:10

Of the the day whether we are white, brown black Cuban or Asian or what ever race we are, don't we all bleed the same colour ?

I never knew racism until I married someone with opposite skin colour from myself....we have both been openly rejected by both sides of the colour spectrum....how strange is that? I always get a kick out of when people say that racism isn't really present in society today...yet I too didn't even understand the extent of it until I was in it. Makes me sad, my beautiful children have ALREADY been made fun of (multiple times) for their curly poofy hair and mixed skin colour (and none of them are older than 4)., and this was not from the "older" generation. It has all been from the younger, more "accepting " generation.. it's sad that I need to teach them how to handle racism at a young age , as the reality Is they will largely deal it all their lives ...

I'm not going to deny that there is racism in this city or that quite a few white people are racist to a varying degree, but there seems to also be an expectation among a lot of people of other races that whites will be racist. In other words, a lot of people who are non-white seem to expect whites to be racist. Being white myself, I quite often feel as if I have to pass some kind of a test.  
 
There is also no denying that racism also exists between people of one non-white race against people of one or more other non-white races and as stated by other posters, there is also racism against whites. Just look around the world. Racism exists everywhere, not just here.

I'm so sorry this happens to you in Canada, and in Brandon. It's sickening. Aboriginal people should be able to walk with their heads held high, proud of their culture and their tenacity despite the horror that they've been put through.  
 
I hope things get better. I do my part, as a parent, to raise my children to not judge anyone based on the colour of their skin, their ethnic, religious, or any other kind of background. If other parents do this too, maybe the next generation will have an easier time.  
 
I recently found out that I have 5% Aboriginal blood, and my husband is probably about 15%. It might seem like a small amount, but it just goes to show that most of us are all connected in this country, if not by blood than by the fact that we all call this place home. It's a terrible thing that the original people who first called this place home now feel like they can't be at home in this country.  
 
I'm praying that there can be love, trust, and above all respect in Canada, in every city and town, between people of all colours, creeds and backgrounds. Until then, know that what others think does not define you. You get to decide what the future holds for you, in the way that you react and respond to things. In God's eyes, we are all equal, and we are all loved. God bless you.

I'm not saying it's one sided. I just wanted to point out how I feel ( just like everyone else ) about reading others comments..  
 
I understand racism on all sides of the spectrum.  
I let it bother me because no matter how old i get, I can still learn from it. I get the old anger feelings, the frustration, and yes embarrassed. There's also the new feelings. How I feel about it at my age, the acceptance, forgiveness, and pride.  
In no way am I ashamed of who and what I am. Again just wanted to point out how I feel when I read things.  
I do want to let people know that what they are saying is hurtful. It can be hurtful no matter where it comes from.  
Yes raise children with awareness and acceptance. That's great!  
I just want to use platforms and my voice to let people know.  
 
I understand it's a very long winded subject.

MsIndependent88 said "I'm not saying it's one sided. I just wanted to point out how I feel ( just like everyone else ) about reading others comments..     I understand racism on all sides of the spectrum.   I let it bother me because no matter how old i get, I can still learn from it. I get the old anger feelings, the frustration, and yes embarrassed. There's also the new feelings. How I feel about it at my age, the acceptance, forgiveness, and pride.   In no way am I ashamed of who and what I am. Again just wanted to point out how I feel when I read things.   I do want to let people know that what they are saying is hurtful. It can be hurtful no matter where it comes from.   Yes raise children with awareness and acceptance. That's great!   I just want to use platforms and my voice to let people know.     I understand it's a very long winded subject. "

Yes it does hurt to hear and see it on a daily basis. It takes generations to change people's opinions, judgements, and behavior. We can only work on ourselves to help make that difference. What helps me is thinking that they are showing how they think of themselves more than anything.

your comments come off as trying to minimize the ops experience with racism

I am a third generation WASP and I feel we need to blame our ancestors for a lot of this. I think there is always a little fear of the other race, no matter which race (out of the hundreds in the world) you are or which the other person is, until you get to know them personally then you soon find out there are way more similarities than differences, and the differences are what we should embrace, not shy away from. 150 years ago they started us off on the wrong foot with how the differences were handled, which led to conflict and segregation. Many generations grew up not knowing any of the other race personally, and were only aware of the problems-makers. So when the only part of a race they are aware of are "bad", then the whole race gets painted with that brush. I don't know how we get things right, I wish we could start over, but of course we can't. In every race there are good examples and bad examples, let's just try to make sure we are one of the good ones going forward.

i wish people(some more then others) could just answer the original question or just make positive comments without always having to make unnecessary remarks. The op was just saying how stuff made her feel and i feel the same anger and ashamed when i read or hear these types of comments about any group of people.  
I wish more people in the world could be like these two little boys sure would make it a much better place to live for everyone!!  

Love this video. We grown ups could learn so much from this

Growing up on a farm and observing cattle it was easy to notice cows like chickens have a pecking order. Any creature who might be different gets pushed out.  
 
In human circles some have to pick so as to gain dominance. This happens even within families.  
 
My take is there are some who add to their misery by playing victim. I am being picked on because I am . I have worked at a variety of jobs on different crews. The most aggressive in expressing bias are member of visible minorities. Against their own. Or crying that they are discriminated against.

When you were observing the cattle did you notice that it was never a situation where the Hereford cattle picked on the Angus cattle, or the Angus picked on the Charolais, but more specifically a certain animal picked on everyone. Then some old cow, who had been around for years, and didn't pick on anyone, came along and laid down the law.  
We do have similarities with cattle, but the big difference is we get to think and use logic, we tie events, emotion and experience together to decide if we want to make things better or worse.

MsIndependent88 said "I've been born and raised in Brandon. I've seen others come & go. I've seen Brandon rise and fall to changes through the years. I've called Brandon home for years and years.     I've read countless threads of others discussing my race. Making just wild statements.     Whether that be how we need to help ourselves, we need to pay taxes, now it's the urban reserve.   Apparently I can't get good service anywhere I go. I get treated so terribly and get disgusting looks. Sometimes the comments make me feel so small. I don't want to go out in public because I'm clearly being watched or profiled.     I once was a proud community member of Brandon. Now I feel like an outsider.     Just so you're all well aware.   1) I pay taxes   2) I've always held a job     For some reason it feels better to explain myself than to be judged so terribly.     I've heard and read thousands of racist comments in my life.   This is my DAILY life for 28 years. "

Next time someone gives you a dirty look stare back at them! Ask them what's up! When someone makes a derogatory remark to you say 'Pardon me, could you repeat that' because no doubt they only said the words loud enough for your ears!  
 
I've been thru a lot and there comes a time when you refuse to take s&^t from anyone anymore!  
 
Good luck and hold your head up!

Caucasians on the receiving end of racism. Hahahahahahahahah if you truly believe that racism is the same thing as racism towards aboriginals and others. You will Never understand true racism so just stop. Dont comment

In my world, people are ALL equal. As a SWF, I may not know racism but I do know pain. No one person or group has the right to cause another pain. It is up to all of us to speak out when we witness racist comments, hatred and violence.