I have been gone for too long, but this story has brought me back to the blogosphere! From Canada, a seven year old boy's haircut against his will has outraged not only his family, but also native people across Canada and in the U.S.
At his school in Thunder Bay, a seven year old student active on the pow wow circut was subjected to the same dehumanizing treatment our ancestors were subjected to at the off-reservation boarding schools. A teacher's aide who thought the boy was having trouble seeing through his bangs, grabbed the child's braids (which reached his chin) and cut them off!
The family has hired a Tornto-based human-rights lawyers and has filed a formal complaint with the police. The police investigated the incident and decided not to file charges. The law clearly states that cutting someone's hair without thier consent constitutes assault. There is NO REASON why charges have not been filed in this case!
Just one year since PM Stephen Harper apologized to Indian people for boarding schools and the attitudes that created them, we are here again. This is a fine blast from the past, right out of the 1800s! And, of course, no charges will be filed. Police in Thunder Bay say it was the Crown's decision not to file assault charges. The Ministry of the Attorney General claims it was the police who refused to file charges. Seems that no one wants to be accountable for this wrongheaded decision. The principal of the school called the family to apologize and the teacher's aide was suspended. The school refers to the haircut as an "unfortunate incident."
Unfortunate indeed! Perhaps a lerger investigation into the treatment of First Nation's people in Canadian schools is called for. Perhaps some justice for this child and his family would come from the aide being fired. Do we need laws passed that say "We can't cut children's hair without their consent because of possible religious issues." No, this is a simple case of assault and disrespect--I'm not sure which is worse?! Someone must be accountable for this blatant disregard for native rights!
