The topic of systemic racism has become front and center in Canada and historically there’s been no shortage of it here in Kamloops.

Skeetchestn Band Chief Ron Ignace was on NL Newsday and said racism is something he’s dealt with his entire life. He says there was a time not long ago when Indigenous people were not allowed in ‘white-run restaurants.

“My great grandparents knew that they could only go to a Chinese restaurant in Kamloops and it was the Silver Grill and old Wing used to run it and I could still see him going up and down the aisles serving us,” he said, while still being able to to keep a sense of humour.

“So to this day we say ‘well lets go have some Indigenous food’ meaning lets go to a Chinese restaurant.”

Sadly though, Ignace says things didn’t change when he became old enough to go out on his own.

“I tried to go into a white restaurant and was refused service and ultimately I had to leave and go back to the Chinese restaurant in order to get served,” he added.

He says racism is something you don’t expect in Canada and he doesn’t think people understand that to this day.

“As we, as Indigenous Peoples, are well aware, racism also deeply affects black people and other people of colour in Canada,” Ignace added.

“Recently, in the wake of the demonstrations in the U.S. following the killing of George Floyd at the knee of a police officer, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that racism is not only an American issue, but is also a systemic issue in Canada.”