Julie Van Dusen

Controversy

On June 29, 2017, Van Dusen attended a press conference held by a group of family members of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). Van Dusen questioned an Indigenous teen about Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s work with the Indigenous community asking, "but how can he be blamed for that? You don’t think that anything he’s doing is helping the situation? Is it.. is he.. Is he an improvement over Stephen Harper? I mean, wha what, talk about his record." Activist Jocelyn Wabano-Iahtail cut in at this point and asked Van Dusen, “Excuse me? Did I just hear you correctly?” Then proceeds to shut down Van Dussen claiming Van Dussen’s line of questioning is disrespectful, Jocelyn Wabano-Iahtail references one of the many unsolved deaths of young Indigenous teenagers in Thunder Bay, where Van Dussen pushes back saying, “It’s a simple question.” In response, the Indigenous activist addresses Van Dusen, first by stating that Van Dusen is a guest here, and secondly, addressing Van Dusen’s harmful tone and delivery, and then said to Van Dusen, “You’re done.” While Glen McGregor and Julie Van Dusen begin speaking over one another, activist Jocelyn answers the journalist’s question, stating, “She (Jocelyn) can speak for herself.” Calling Julie out on her white privilege and how easy it is for her to ask disrespectful questions and how quickly her “white man comes and sticks up for [you].” When CTV journalist Glen McGregor followed up with a similar question, the activists told him "You're a guest here. Without us you'd be homeless.” Shortly after, activist Jocelyn cancelled the press conference, walking out of the room. CBC political commentator Martin Patriquin described it as "Racism, sexism, and a press conference gone horribly wrong.".

Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau issued a statement that same day stating, "We recognize that over the past decades, generations, indeed centuries, Canada has failed Indigenous Peoples." The fallout from this event was occurring simultaneously with one in Canada's north where the "British media weren’t impressed when Prince Charles and his wife Camilla had trouble controlling their laughter during a traditional throat singing ceremony in Iqaluit"

References

References

1. "Indigenous women call reporter 'white lady,' demand she leave press conference - National | Globalnews.ca".
2. (30 May 2017). "Deaths of Indigenous teens puts Thunder Bay on edge".
3. "Trudeau calls for understanding after tempers flare during indigenous 'reoccupation' of Parliament Hill".
4. (July 5, 2017). "Racism, sexism — and a press conference gone horribly wrong".
5. "Metro News Canada".
6. (July 4, 2017). "Prince Charles, Camilla 'giggling like naughty schoolchildren' during throat singing performance".