Nunavut federal candidates differ on Trudeau blackface scandal
“Let’s stop talking about Trudeau for a second and talk about the people who feel upset and hurt”
When Time magazine published this yearbook photo from 2001 last week, showing Justin Trudeau with dark makeup on his face, neck and hands at an “Arabian nights” themed party at the private school where he taught at the time, it jolted the nation and generated embarrassing headlines around the world. (Time)
Nunavut candidates from the three largest political parties offer differing responses to the blackface photo scandal that, since last week, has engulfed national Liberal leader Justin Trudeau, damaging his credibility and seriously jeopardizing his re-election bid.
Time magazine sent shockwaves across Canada and throughout the world last week when they published a yearbook photo of Trudeau taken in 2001 at an “Arabian nights” gala held at a private school in Vancouver where Trudeau worked as a teacher.
This screen grab is from a video made in the early 1990s when Trudeau was somewhere between the ages of 21 and 23. Global News publicized it last week following the release of another blackface photo by Time magazine. (Global)
“On a personal level, I find these photos distressing. As an Inuk woman, my traditional dress and the colour of my skin are not costumes that people can wear as a joke and call it entertainment,” Conservative candidate Leona Aglukkaq told Nunatsiaq News.
Mumilaaq Qaqqaq, the Nunavut candidate for the New Democratic Party, also said she found the photos upsetting, and said she questions Trudeau’s attempts to explain himself.
“I know this happened around 2001 and the 1990s, but he can’t specify how many times he’s done it—to my knowledge, he hasn’t said. So that raises a bunch more questions, because in 2001, it was not something that was commonly done,” Qaqqaq said.
In the photo published by Time on Sept. 19, Trudeau, who was 29 at the time it was taken, had darkened his face and was dressed in a Middle Eastern parody costume, with turban and robes.
Nunavut Liberal candidate Megan Pizzo-Lyall with Justin Trudeau in Iqaluit this past Aug. 1. “I believe he made a mistake, he stated that he recognizes this as a mistake himself. I accept his apology and I know how hard he will work in moving forward on tackling racism,” Pizzo-Lyall said. (File photo)
The next day, Global News published a video, taken when Trudeau was aged somewhere between 21 and 23 and working in Quebec as a whitewater river rafting guide, showing him with blackened legs, arms and face, jumping up and down and sticking out his tongue.
Among people of African descent, such blackface performances have for many years been decried as part of a long history of demeaning images that dehumanize black people.
Trudeau’s behaviour hurts non-white people
For her part, Aglukkaq said it’s “upsetting” that Trudeau engaged in such behaviour as a grown man while working in a school as a teacher.
“Canadians know this behaviour is wrong now, just as much as it was wrong in 2001. The prime minister had multiple times to come forward and discuss and apologize for these racist actions, but unfortunately he waited until he was caught,” Aglukkaq said.
Nunavut NDP candidate Mumilaaq Qaqqaq: ““Let’s stop talking about Trudeau for a second and talk about all the people who see that and feel upset and hurt.” (File photo)
Qaqqaq, in line with remarks that NDP leader Jagmeet Singh made in widely publicized media interviews last week, also said many non-white people are hurt by Trudeau’s racist behavior.
“It’s about the people on the other side of the screen, on the other side of that picture, how does that impact them?” Qaqqaq said.
“Let’s stop talking about Trudeau for a second and talk about all the people who see that and feel upset and hurt, and have more discussions around race and background. I think that’s something that needs to happen…. Race sometimes plays into outcomes that are horrible in the North,” she said.
The NDP candidate for Nunavut pointed out that, unlike Trudeau, non-white people can’t change how they look—or the treatment they experience because of it.
“At the end of the day, he gets to wash that off. But this is something so many people experience all the time because they do have darker skin, because they’re brown or black. It’s not something that can be washed off.”
“But we should be proud of who we are and what we look like. We need to be proud. It’s not something to be mocked,” Qaqqaq said.
Nunavut Conservative candidate Leona Aglukkaq in Iqaluit last summer with Conservative leader Andrew Scheer: “Canadians know this behaviour is wrong now, just as much as it was wrong in 2001. The prime minister had multiple times to come forward and discuss and apologize for these racist actions, but unfortunately he waited until he was caught,” Aglukkaq said.
Trust, credibility
And the two non-Liberal candidates each said the incident raises questions about the trustworthiness of the Liberal leader.
“This makes me question Trudeau. He said he wants to improve relations with Indigenous people but he spent billions on the Trans-Mountain pipeline. I don’t know what these things mean for Nunavummiut in the future,” Qaqqaq said.
Aglukkaq, who is attempting to regain the seat she won in the 2008 and 2011 federal elections but lost in 2015, said that Trudeau’s credibility has also been shaken by ethics scandals and the way he and his staff “bullied” former justice minister Jody Wilson-Raybould.
“Given that the leader of our country can get away with such actions without consequence, it is clear there is more to do in this country to combat racism and prejudice,” Aglukkaq said.
Liberal candidate accepts apology
Liberal candidate Megan Pizzo-Lyall said, however, that despite what happened, she’s still loyal to Trudeau and the Liberal team.
And she also accepts Trudeau’s apologies.
“I believe he made a mistake, he stated that he recognizes this as a mistake himself. I accept his apology and I know how hard he will work in moving forward on tackling racism,” Pizzo-Lyall said.
She also said she has known Trudeau since 2005, when she met him on a Students on Ice expedition that travelled from Iceland to Greenland and Nunavut.
“He is a great person. I know he believes in multiculturalism because I felt it first-hand, even back then. I believe in our party and I believe in Justin Trudeau,” she said.
Conversation about racism?
At the same time, Pizzo-Lyall agrees that people in Nunavut, and in Canada, need to have a conversation about racism.
“As Justin Trudeau has said, our country needs to have this conversation. We Inuit make up 85 per cent of the territory and arguably at some point in our lives, as Canadians and humanity as a whole, we have experienced some form of racism or another and it is something we all need to work together on to stop,” Pizzo-Lyall said.
On that point, all three candidates appear to agree.
“Given that the leader of our country can get away with such actions without consequence, it is clear there is more to do in this country to combat racism and prejudice,” Aglukkaq said.
And Qaqqaq said such discussions must also be informed by knowledge.
“First, education and awareness needs to be done…. It can be really hard to get into these kinds of discussions when people aren’t aware of how the Indian Act affected the peoples of this country, how the identification disks affected people, how people were taken for TB treatment, how there were dog slaughters, how there were forced relocations into communities,” Qaqqaq said.
“It can be hard to have conversation around race, with people from different backgrounds, when that awareness is not there.”
The Green Party candidate in Nunavut is Douglas William Roy, but the Green Party’s national office has not yet sent us his contact information.
The People’s Party of Canada has not announced a confirmed candidate for Nunavut.
So,what really is don’t ever look like you are not on halloween and or at any costume parties. chee… what is happening to having fun. If trudeau dressed as an inuk, i wouldn’t be offended. What a subject to talk about. Let’s talk reality. Politically. Not a damn dress up or make-up.
because Holloween is about dressing up to scare people and some of the stuff are not real like vampires, ghost and werewolves. Dressing up as a person your not a person of is offensive and it is hurtful, even if some people are not offended. If one person of a group is hurt and bring back bad memories of their experience by someone that dresses up in black face or as an Inuk. I have been called nigger lips but a teacher here in Nunavut when I was in Grade 4 I didn’t know what that meant and some kids starting calling me nigger lips. I am brown Inuk and I have always been conscience of that since my teacher called me nigger lips.
SO that what is so wrong with it Trudeu did and it’s how most Canadians behave they’re nice to you in public but as soon they are around each other they say alot of racist things. A number of mix INuit that look non INuit have told me more than once that they hear things because they thought they were white too.
Halloween isnt about scaring people lol. It’s just about dressing up. It’s just another time of the year companies sell things to make money.
LOL why would the Liberal Candidate disagree with Trudeau? She will be another puppet as she’s already won’t appose anything he does.
Racism is unacceptable ..period
Solid answer by the NDP candidate. Seemed genuine. “Let’s stop talking about Trudeau for a second..” is a very mature response.
On the flip side, Aglukkaq’s response is the expected cookie cutter response from Conservatives. It’s hard to take them seriously because their base is so anti political correctness, yet when a Liberal does something anti-PC they’re appalled. If you’re genuinely offended by the PM’s blackface and vote Conservative, brace yourself because this country will quickly turn into a yellow vest shithole.
The Conservatives got lucky that the NDP got a more exciting young candidate than the Liberal one. They might be able to steal this one. The Liberals poured TONS of money into Nunavut, yet people here still seem to think it’s time to go back to Leona again. I guess we’ll go back to empty promises and take a few steps back on reconciliation.
Nice to see the ndp and conservative candidates voice what many nunavummiut were thinking..this is wrong no matter how you look at it. too bad the liberal candidate is apologizing for the prime minister. plus aglukkaq is right he only apologized after the pictures came out! why not apologize years ago?? it looks like the liberal candidate will just be another person to be the mouthpiece of ottawa here in nunavut to tell us whatever the liberals want us to hear instead of actually standing up for us..
Yes Mumilaaq of the NDP has best response. Keep up the good work.
The NDP have the strongest candidate in Nunavut. I’m voting NDP for the 1st time ever. I loved her response the best and she was great on the radio again the other day.
So funny seeing all the conservatives up in a dander over this, good times.
Does Pizzo-Lyall staying on under the leadership of Justin Trudeau mean that she tacitly support racism?
I think so.
She didn’t say that. She said that he acknowledged his mistake and apologized for it. She accepted his apology., She did not accept racism.
To blacken one’s face & hands takes a concerted & directed effort. In my whole life I never seen anyone in ‘blackface’. But Trudeau did it on several occasions. If I was a Liberal candidate knowing this I would decline an invitation to be their candidate. I’m voting NDP.
I love that when election time rolls around, the issues are not dental care, pharma care, education, trade, investment, environment, corporate welfare, social welfare, taxes, provincial/territorial transfers, or any sort of real policy. They’re, “Hey, look at this guy’s costume 18 years ago!”
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Should Justin Trudeau have dressed that way? No. Was everybody really as aware of how offensive it was in 2001, which predates not only Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter, but also both MySpace and Napster? No.
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I’m sure he understands much more now than he did at the time. Let’s move on. Am I a die-hard Liberal that supports Justin Trudeau? No.
One day, everyone will realize that the conservatives literally have nothing to show for, but attack attack and attack while making themselves look better….without any justifiable policies to help their campaign! Miss Aglukkaq just happens to be on the wrong end of the political party. Do people ever realize how much of a CURRENT racist party the cons are? I mean, look at their so called leader. He doesn’t give a f*** about indigenous rights at all! Andrew Scheer (No right in calling him honourable) has literally stated in a live debate, when asked about the money making land polluting oil and land development projects, he said the projects have been halted because Indigenous people are “holding hostage” to their own land just because they will not agree to anymore polluting and ignoring human rights! “… But we cannot create a system in this country where one group of individuals, one Indigenous community, can hold hostage large projects that employ so many Indigenous Canadians.”
Did people forget this issue? I mean, it was the cons who shared this photo in the first place, after receiving heavy criticism, decided to Share this photo to the media to “relieve embarrassing tensions” to the so called Conservative leader. Inuit, indigenous, and all Canadians alike should not think to vote con, as literally the party is filled with corruption and secret plans to gain temporary money. I mean, you need to look at the real issues. The Cons were the ones to fricken’ VETO THE U.N.D.R.I.P Bill! Leona needs to get her act together and stop running for the worst possible party! I ain’t no liberal either, but come on smarten’ up people! Don’t vote worse because of the bad’s actions.
https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/scheer-indigenous-hold-hostage-projects_ca_5d7b194ce4b077dcbd5b7d0d
If the conservatives are so against indigenous rights, then I do not think they would have worked with Inuit from 1984 to 1993 to put the Nunavut Agreement in place, which is the largest comprehensive land settlement in Canadian history. There are 140 unsettled land claims in Canada. The reason the Canadian public feels like they are being held hostage by indigenous people is that these modern treaties remain unresolved, and there are no established ways for indigenous people to assert their rights in most of Canada. The only recourse our first nations neighbours have are the courts. People of any colour have a right to be sick and tired of these constant band aids.
The failure of the government of Canada to act is what is creating and adding to this discord between indigenous and other Canadians. The only way this is going to change is when you have a modern treaty, supported by Section 35 of our Constitution in place like we do in Nunavut. Selling bands part of a pipeline does not cut it.
If you want to compare and rate political parties and their performance on indigenous issues, then let it be established how many of the 140 comprehensive land claims have been settled over the past 4 years…precious few if any at all. Maybe the Algonquin AIP that was in the works prior to the change in government 2015?
Talk, apology, rinse, repeat and no fundamental action.
The Conservative party did not exist until 2003. The reforms you mention were conducted by the Progressive Conservatives. The Conservative Party of Canada is nothing more than a re-branded Reform Party and has no claim to any of the work done by the PC’s.
Dear History Major, your point is taken, partly. Yes the reform party became the central ideological force in the conservative movement from the early to mid 90s and on. Yet, many of its members were part of the PC era as well. The modern incarnation of the Conservative Party is not strictly a rebranded reform party, it was and is a blend of both. So, today when we speak of conservatives, who are we talking about then? People disposed to be anxious of change and more likely to oppose social progress (typically on religious grounds). This is ignoring the ‘libertarian’ strain of thought that often seems to get drowned out on social issues… it’s a real odd marriage actually.
It really doesn’t bother my if he dressed up as blackface or blueface or purpleface. What bothers me is that when he ran for leadership the vetting committee surely asked if he had done something he was embarrassed about and he surely lied to them. So if he can lie to his own party what makes anyone think he is not lied to us all on many topics.
He, like everyone else facing the prospect of power, engaged only his selective memory. My guess anyway, I would also guess that many others who condemn him for it might do exactly the same.
Please don`t compare Blackface to “Blueface” or “Purpleface” there are literally no races who are blue and purple, get real.
Anyone who thinks what Justin Trudeau did was a racist statement should pull their head out of the sand. Justin wasn’t conscious when he put on blackface, he was a fool and fools don’t fully know what they do or the consequences of their actions. So if you’re hurt by his actions, don’t be. One trait that I’m sure he is aware of though is his deceit, it screams privilege. I can picture him growing up in Ottawa lying to his hippy dad to get out of the most minute trouble. This kid will never get my vote, but not because he’s racist (he’s not racist!) it’s because he will never keep his promises.
most people don’t know they are racist because it’s normal behavour to them so to say that Trudeau did this unconsciously is absurd it what he learned from his parents, his friends his teachers ! everyone he associated with all his life. I had a conversation with a qablunaaq who married to an Inuk, he didn’t realize how racist was until he met her because his behavior and assumptions were really racist because he grew up with it. He now has fight with his family because how their racist attitude and they say they’re not racist it just how they always been cause they have never been around other people. For Trudeua to go this party knowing people would laugh and accept him because he new they were just as racist ( I am not racist common term) . So your arguement is baseless that he didn’t know it was racist.
Your reply is full of contradictions. In your first sentence you say “Most people don’t know they are racist” then your last line says “So you’re argument is baseless that he didn’t know it was racist”. Wow maybe you should dig you’re head out of the sand.
We do dress up to what we are not for entertainment and we are supposedly a multi-cultural nation. It would be one thing to dress up/ make up as another culture for negative purposes, but a majority of dress-ups we see are for entertainment. Are we going to start having sanctioned politically correct costume-wear and if we don’t we could be liable for prosecution?. Do we need to start apologizing on social media for all the politically inappropriate costume wear, we have worn in the past. Suurlu qatiktuq pingunngurtuq. Vote for the party with the best platform for Nunavut.
Problem with today’s media and journalists is that they will do anything to change people’s mind. Your job as a journalist is to put out news for everyone not just to certain people. Don’t you think that you are being a biased if you are just focusing on Justin Trudeau? What about Andrew sheer? What about the other leaders. I am sure they have done more stupid stuff. And why can’t a human be a human being by having fun? Being a teacher and wearing a costume is for fun for the students. Please don’t forget how Leona was when she was the MP. Reading news paper when the topic was important for Nunavummiut. See the difference between what Trudeau and Leona did? Trudeau was a normal person being a teacher having fun with his students and Leona working as the top person and speaking about the biggest issue we have. Please journalists, don’t be biased. We can’t forget what Leona did and please write down other leaders have done. Conservatives? NDP? Green?
It’s important to understand this issue in the context of the current moral panic over real and perceived racism. For journalists to retain a credible position among the progressive elements in our society they must allow space for identity based issues like this. So, in this case, people are asked to pause and talk about how hurt they are. I would encourage Nunatsiaq to post an interactive doll map, so we all have the opportunity to show one another on it precisely where Justin Trudeau in blackface hurt us!
I don’t think he was dressing up for Halloween to be racist. Just like millions of people who dresses up for Halloween. Just like human being enjoying themselves for some type of celebration. That’s where people are getting confused. The other picture, we don’t know where that is from. They only are finally trying to put all these information when campaigns are happening. And he apologized for it. Have Leona ever apologize? She probably did but never heard of it. She didn’t care. I was hurt by her action. Unless you are supporter of her you wouldn’t. We are struggling. Are we gonna struggle again under conservatives? What about NDP? I don’t want Leona to be leading us again. I don’t want a rookie who hasn’t done anything political to lead us.
Maybe some rookies actually listen to the public they represent because they are not lifelong professional politicians… We need to support young people who are talented and enthusiastic. They actually can start to change things. Who started the discussion on creating Nunavut? Long time politicians? No. Very young people with a dream did. Many young people have dreams of a better world, and we need to encourage that instead of dismissing them. Older people who have that dream can support those who actually have the courage to put themselves forward to make a difference.
Only difference between Mumilaaq and those guys who negotiated is that those guys were more mature then her. They wanted to make a difference for their people and they did what ever they can to do that. Have you watch her speech at the parliament when she was at the youth parliament or what ever. She cried… those guys back in the day had tough skin. I am pretty sure there was certain people that they didn’t want to them to be involved.
So Mumilaaq “cried” and…? That is an indicator of low maturity to you? What a strange analysis. I’m inclined to think that crying does not reveal either a surplus or deficit of maturity or intellect. Why would you think it does? Is it the ‘tough skin’ thing? Maybe your ideas about leadership are informed by too much machismo or fantasies about rugged masculinity?
The NDP and the Conservatives must be so happy to have a dog to wag which speaks to the shallowness of their own platforms and takes the spotlight off of themselves. Aglukkaq burned her bridges long ago and I certainly don’t want to see Sheer leading the government. He has his own demons like his stands on gay marriage, abortion, etc…..Only certain segments of society count in his books. True waspish character there. Qaqqaq is a very young, naive, glassy eyed girl with little knowledge or perspective on the real big issues. It would be like having the student council president as our MP.Reminds me of the MLA from Kugluktuk….only time she opens her mouth is to get something for herself (re medical travel-nursing mothers bringing babies along) BTW if Nunavumiut want a real eye opener on political correctness make sure you attend a community Halloween contest. Men dressed as women, women dressed as men, baby dolls coming out of people’s butts, black face, brown face, white face, purple face, green face,people dressed as animals, spirits and demons, etc…… maybe people should start digging up some of those old photos from years past ……..might find a few racists, bigots, misogynists, misandrists, Furry fetishists, among those old pictures. ….seriously folks…..move on and start looking at the bigger issues.
Two points:
Racism is a serious issue that needs to be discussed in Canada
And I’d say it’s unwise and unfair to be so dismissive of the young leaders who are stepping up. Just like Trump, name calling when you have nothing substantive to contribute.
Nobody says racism isn’t important. We all know that it is. But what we really need to hear right now is the difference between the party platforms which will make us want to vote for one over the other. If we get weighed down by something that happened a couple of decades ago and has nothing to do with politics or government people will be falling for the “wag the dog” strategy and not focus on the main issues Canadians have identified as being important to them. Parties have surveyed Canadians for months to find out what Canadians think is important and that information determines the platforms of the parties….knock yourself out….
https://newsinteractives.cbc.ca/elections/federal/2019/party-platforms/
I keep thinking about those pictures of Justin. They happen before he became politician. I am living out west where most people are Conservatives. What, I have seen in Trudeau. He has been giving to Native, Inuit are so amazing. I have never seen MP doing all this. I hardly ever seem him attacking other Leaders. I do not like that someone who looks a clown to be our MP. I have seen my people suffer when Conservative was in charge in Nunavut. Let’s vote for someone who has done more for us and he will not just talk. Journalist people are doing their jobs and they do not know when they hurt people. I miss Peter Mansbridge news reporter.
I can think of one at least one candidate here that shoud be very careful about self righteous statements about just how distressing those pictures are. Perhaps we all have pictures of times we dressed up when we were younger and having fun. Perhaps Justin would not be the only one with selective memory lapses. But the real point to me, would that disqualify the candidate from running, or should there be other , more substantive reasons i should decide to place my vote differnently? Twenty years ago a lot of stupid things happened. But if they are still happening, and we are condoning it, or helping it along, then we have a greater problem.
So how, as a “superior race”, do anglo saxons feel when we colour our hair and/or moustaches, do our nails, use their language, etc etc etc?
Anglo-saxons aren’t a race, and I would love to know the source of your “quotation”.
The term “race” was a modern invention but in modern anthropology it is generally accepted that all humans belong to one race- the human race.
why not just say Sheer was pretending to show that it is in his “peoples” interest “he is not speaking for all white people RIGHT? not all of them feel as he does maybe they grew up with a strong family and his wasn’t
I’m black, and not the least bit offended by Justin Trudeau. He does not strike me as being even remotely racist. I’ve met real racists, and few would ever dress up as a black or brown person.