'It's not a costume': First Nations student mocked for wearing regalia to B.C. school
The superintendent of the school district that includes Kitimat, B.C., has apologized to a student at Mount Elizabeth Middle Secondary after the boy’s teacher ridiculed him for wearing his traditional Haisla Nation regalia and cedar hat to class.
Alex Grant said his stepson Gregory chose to wear the regalia for photo day on Monday.
“The teacher when he got to the classroom had mocked him, and asked him, 'What’s up with the costume today?' in front of the entire class,” said Grant.
School district 82 superintendent Janet Meyer said she has apologized to Gregory, his parents and the Haisla Nation.
“A student at one of our schools in Coast Mountain School District had an experience on Monday that was very much not consistent with the beliefs of the school district,” said Meyer. “It’s an experience we don’t think any student in B.C. or Canada or anywhere in the world should experience.”
The district won’t name the teacher or reveal if he could face any disciplinary action.
“There is an internal human resources process that we are following, and that’s all I am at liberty to say,” said Meyer.
The superintendent sat down with Gregory, his parents and the school's principal on Tuesday.
“There is an investigation going on now that’s all they’ll say to us about that. The matter is in their hands and it’s being taken care of,” said Grant, who added an apology is not enough.
Meyer said the district knows it has work to do to regain the trust of First Nations students in Kitimat.
“We will work very closely with the Haisla Nation around this particular incident to put some structures in places that will help us be better," said Meyer. “All of the adults in that school are ready to listen.”
There is one message Grant wants them to hear loud and clear about the Haisla Nation’s traditional dress.
“It’s not a costume,” he said. “We take our regalia and our traditions very seriously.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests about relationship with Prince Harry
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Ontario man devastated to learn $150,000 line of credit isn't insured after wife dies
An Ontario man found out that a line of credit he thought was insured actually isn't after his wife of 50 years died.
Boy Scouts of America is rebranding. Here's why they're now named Scouting America
After more than a century, Boy Scouts of America is rebranding as Scouting America, another major shakeup for an organization that once proudly resisted change.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Rape, terror and death at sea: How a boat carrying Rohingya children, women and men capsized
In March, Indonesian officials and local fishermen rescued 75 people from the overturned hull of a boat off the coast of Indonesia. Until now, little was known about why the boat capsized.
'A huge difference': These adults born in the '90s partnered with their parents to buy homes in Ontario
An Ontario woman said it would have been impossible to buy a house without her mother – an anecdote that animates the fact that over 17 per cent of Canadian homeowners born in the ‘90s own their property with their parents, according to a new report.
For their protection, immigrants critical of China and India call for speedy passage of Canada's foreign interference legislation
Canadian immigrants threatened by hostile regimes are urging parliamentarians to quickly pass the 'Countering Foreign Interference Act' so they can feel safe living in their adopted home.
How Drake and Kendrick Lamar's rap beef escalated within weeks
A long-simmering feud between hip-hop superstars Drake and Kendrick Lamar reached a boiling point in recent days as the pair traded increasingly personal insults on a succession of diss tracks. Here’s a quick overview of what’s behind the ongoing beef.