Northern Quebec elementary school says it’s committed to doing better after racist incident

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The principal of a northern Quebec elementary school at the center of an incident where students shouted racial threats and stereotypes at an Indigenous woman says the school is committed to tackling the problem head-on.

Mario Tessier is principal of Vatican II Elementary School in Chibougamau, Quebec, a non-Indigenous town located in Eeyou Istchee, the traditional territory of the Cree Nation of Quebec.

On January 10, a group of 9- to 12-year-old students from Vatican II shouted racial stereotypes, insults and threats at Paula Menarick, a Cree woman who was photographing some of her beads near a small pond behind the school. She posted what happened on social media.

“For me as principal, respect is a priority and also awareness of different cultural communities,” said Tessier, adding that his school is one of the most multicultural in the region and has several indigenous students, including students. cries.

He said the school takes the incident very seriously and has contacted the parents of the students involved.

“The kind of things they were shouting, it’s possible to learn them in the playground, but you also learn them at home, at the sports club or with friends,” Tessier said, adding that the school always tries to include parents in the educational process. .

Mario Tessier is principal of Vatican II Elementary School in Chibougamau, Quebec. (submitted by Mario Tessier)

Menarick said she was called a pig, asked if she was an alcoholic and was threatened with being shot and cursed at for over five minutes by the students, and has some of it on video.

Tessier said three main youths were responsible for the insults to Menarick and that about ten students were in the schoolyard at the time.

He met the students involved the day after the incident. He also said the school has an anti-bullying counselor who works with students.

“We asked the children to write apology letters with the help of their parents,” Tessier said. These messages were delivered to Paula Menarick during a meeting at the school last Thursday, the first day she was available.

“I accepted their letters and their apologies,” Menarick wrote on Facebook after the meeting, adding that she was glad the manager was taking the matter seriously.

“I spoke about the importance of educating our children about anti-bullying, anti-violence and anti-racism,” Menarick wrote, adding that Principal Tessier agreed.

“I’m happy that [the principal] took this matter seriously.”

Adults not present in the schoolyard

Tessier offered an explanation for the incident. He said the youngsters were scared and thought someone was trying to start a fire behind the school, adding that it was “completely irrational” given the wintry weather conditions.

He also said there were no adults present in the schoolyard at the time, as Menarick originally said.

Tessier said his school has for many years organized a trip for Grade 3 students to visit the Aanischaaukamikw Cree Cultural Institute in the Cree community of Ouj-Bougoumou.

Last fall, he also encouraged students to wear orange as part of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The students also learned and sang a song about the importance of respecting other cultures.

An undated photo showing an Every Child Matters logo. On September 30 last year, Vatican II students were encouraged to wear orange and sang a song about the importance of other cultures. (Radio-Canada/Guy Bois)

There are also Grade 6 Cree students who will be taking part in a variety show the school is planning for April and have approached two Cree families to ask permission to include Cree elements in the set.

Tessiers said the incident shows a need for more programs to increase knowledge and understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students, and pledged to improve their educational efforts.

“We can certainly always do better. I see the incident that happened as an opportunity to encourage the organization of more activities,” Tessier said.

An all-staff meeting is scheduled for Thursday at Vatican II, where teachers and support staff will brainstorm other things that can be done to break down barriers and increase understanding, Tessier said.

At the time of the incident, Menarick also filed a formal complaint with the James Bay School Services Center School Board. This investigation is still ongoing.

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