Winnipeg mayoral candidate's comments about Indigenous men condemned
First Nations leaders and rival candidates are condemning remarks made by a Winnipeg man who wants to be mayor.
Mayoral candidate Don Woodstock said Indigenous men need to do more to stop violence against women.
He stands by the remarks made at a mayoral forum which garnered backlash and demands for an apology.
Surrounded by supporters outside city hall, mayoral hopeful Robert-Falcon Ouellette, held a news conference to denounce the comments made by Woodstock.
Ouellette, who didn't hear the remarks himself, said he learned about what was said through the media.
"Some comments were made which were extremely inappropriate, racist, unfortunate," Ouellette said.
It happened during a forum hosted by the Council of Women of Winnipeg Thursday night at John Osborne veterans club which 10 of 11 mayoral candidates attended.
It was a forum focused on issues of safe and affordable access to transit and ways to improve safety for women.
Brenda Buleziuk, council president and forum organizer, said Woodstock's remarks came after a different candidate brought up the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
"When it came to him his remark was he felt Indigenous men should look into it and we were all kind of surprised by that comment,” Buleziuk said.
Woodstock said he has no regrets and stands by his comments.
"Chiefs, elders – they have a responsibility in playing a very significant role where murdered and missing women are concerned in terms of the men in that society,” Woodstock said Friday.
Grand Chief Garrison Settee of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak called the remarks ignorant and uninformed and urged Woodstock to apologize and to reconsider his decision to run for mayor. The grand chief said many First Nations men are working to reclaim cultural teachings and to end gender-based violence.
Deputy Grand Chief Cornell McLean of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs called Woodstock’s comments appalling and demanded an apology.
McLean said the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls is systemic and societal, linked to the violent impacts of colonization, assimilation and the removal of First Nations children from their homes.
"He should think before he speaks,” McLean said. "Violence happens everywhere, not only for First Nations men. It happens all over the place, right, so we're the first ones to put the curb to it in terms of getting healing."
Ouellette said Woodstock should know better.
"I must say I'm very surprised,” Ouellette said. “I think sometimes saying you're sorry is an appropriate reaction.”
Grand Chief Settee said comments like Woodstock’s do nothing to improve public safety in Winnipeg, which has the largest urban Indigenous population in Canada. Settee said such remarks only create division and spread misinformation.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada Disability Benefit needs to be safeguarded from clawbacks, MPs unanimously agree
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
Security guard shot, seriously injured outside of Drake's Toronto mansion
A security guard working at Drake’s Bridle Path mansion in Toronto was seriously injured in a shooting outside the residence early Tuesday morning, police said.
Testifying in hush money trial, adult film actor Stormy Daniels describes first meeting Trump
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential election 10 years later.
King Charles too busy to see son Prince Harry during U.K. trip
Prince Harry will not be seeing his father King Charles during his current visit to Britain as the monarch will be too busy, Harry's spokesperson said on Tuesday.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Turfing Poilievre from House a clear sign of desperation by Trudeau Liberals
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
Apple unveils new iPad Pro with 'outrageously powerful' AI-powered chip
Apple is hoping its latest iPad lineup will breathe new life into its sluggish tablet market. In a pre-recorded live streamed event from its Cupertino, California headquarters, the company introduced the latest versions of its iPad Pro and iPad Air tablets, and an all-new Apple Pencil Pro.
Katy Perry's mom was fooled by AI images of the singer at the Met Gala
Katy Perry did not attend the Met Gala on Monday, but some of the singer’s fans – and even her mom – thought she did.
Your body needs these three forms of movement every week
Movement is movement, right? Not exactly. Here’s what your body is looking for in addition to your morning walk or yoga session, according to experts.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.