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Statement by Okanagan Nation Alliance on Racist Public Comments by BC Conservative Candidate for Juan de Fuca-Malahat

October 28th, 2024

Statement by Okanagan Nation Alliance on Racist Public Comments by BC Conservative Candidate for Juan de Fuca-Malahat

Nation calls on BC Conservative leader John Rustad to take an immediate stand against hate and racism in his party, by ejecting Marina Sapozhnikov.

SYILX OKANAGAN NATION TERRITORY – (Oct. 28, 2024) – Chief Clarence Louie, Tribal Chair of the Syilx Okanagan Nation, issued the following statement in response to racist public comments by BC Conservative candidate, Marina Sapozhnikov.

The recorded comments were publicized in a Vancouver Sun article on October 24, 2024.

“We join other voices, Indigenous and non-Indigenous alike, in condemning the abhorrent and racist comments made by the BC Conservative candidate for the riding of Juan de Fuca-Malahat, Marina Sapozhnikov.

These ignorant and hateful comments, which constitute a form of hate speech, have no place in our society. We call on BC Conservative Leader, John Rustad, to immediately take a clear and strong stand against hate and racism, by removing her from his political party.

Indigenous Nations are the first peoples and the original rights and title holders of this province, as recognized by the Supreme Court of Canada. We have been here since time immemorial and we have survived the racist and colonial views and actions of people like Ms. Sapozhnikov, whose comments show the true depth of her own ignorance of both history and the contemporary reality of our province.

Would-be politicians who hold and espouse racist and backward views, should be immediately disqualified by their party leaders, based on the understanding that such views and comments are hateful and hurtful to Indigenous people, and completely undermine any kind of government-to-government relationship between provincial leaders and the Indigenous Nations on whose land and good graces this province depends.”

Statement by Okanagan Nation Alliance on Racist Public Comments by BC Conservative Candidate for Juan de Fuca-Malahat

980 CKNW Interview with Chief Clarence Louie on the Racist Public Comments by BC Conservative Candidate

For more information, or to arrange interviews:

Tara Montgomery
ONA Communications Lead
250-862-6866

Andrew Frank
CEC Communications Advisor
604-367-2112