Image source: Huffingtonpost.ca
For Mother’s Day this year, Barbara Kay went on a Twitter tirade, sharing her uninformed and outdated racist views on Indigenous issues with the world. Kay is a Canadian media figure with a lengthy career in journalism, most notably as a columnist with The National Post and as a contributor to the conservative publication, The Rebel. She is also the mother of Jonathan Kay former Editor of the Walrus Magazine who resigned after the fallout from defending writer; Hal Niedzviecki who had also just resigned as Editor of the Writers’ Union of Canada magazine last Wednesday after complaints about an opinion piece in which he wrote that he doesn’t believe in cultural appropriation. Is it time for Barbara Kay to resign too?
Social media is now a big game changer in the way society spreads information and whose voices get heard. Prominent Anishinaabe media critic, Jesse Wente summed it up perfectly in an interview with CBC, “We’re in a new paradigm where Indigenous voices are louder because of social media. We don’t have to occupy chairs in mainstream news media to have our voices heard. We can do this in another way and that is not going to change. So the reality is: this IS the new reality. When these issues come up they will be called out, repeatedly.” Never be afraid to speak up! If anything, Indigenous, Black and minority voices need to do so now more than ever, because we still see too much of this. Here are some of the highlights of Sunday’s ugly tirade and the word warriors who shut them down:
How it all started:
Q 4 @jonkay and @jessewente: TRC did not allow witnessing from anyone w positive #residentialschools experience. Would u give them platform?
— Barbara Kay (@BarbaraRKay) May 14, 2017
Then there was that time when she thought children forced to attend residential schools were ‘better off’ than living at home in their communities:
@tagaq @BinesiM @jonkay @jessewente For some FN people, sadly, the residential schools were a step up from their own homes. They should not be censored for saying so.
— Barbara Kay (@BarbaraRKay) May 14, 2017
According to Barb, “culture” wasn’t a ‘thing’ before the European settlers arrived. For Barb this false argument and nonsensical contradiction justifies colonial legislated policy targeted against children to eradicate their culture.
@HorridDaughter @august_mk Eradicating other tribes by FN also happened back in the day, but no survivors, no foul. "Culture" wasn't a thing then. Revisionism easy.
— Barbara Kay (@BarbaraRKay) May 14, 2017
The term “genocide” was too much for her, despite the findings from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission:
@LaforgeCharles @jonkay @jessewente Not saying residential schools great. But all nations then had similar notions of what "civilizing" meant. The "genocide" thing is overmuch.
— Barbara Kay (@BarbaraRKay) May 14, 2017
Was Barbara Kay having Mother’s Day Tea with Senator Lynn Beyak who recently made similar statements?
@KikkiPlanet @maggie_wente @jonkay @jessewente only I didn't put a positive spin on those who suffered. Only supporting the right of those whose lives were improved by schools to say so.
— Barbara Kay (@BarbaraRKay) May 14, 2017
Before spewing her “narrative of total evil” Barb admitted she did not even bother to read the TRC report:
@maggie_wente @jonkay @jessewente I did not read the report. I read news accounts. As I say, my impression that it was skewed to narrative of total evil.
— Barbara Kay (@BarbaraRKay) May 14, 2017
Tanya Tagaq was as tongue in cheek as one can be (also see more of Kay’s ignorance):
@BarbaraRKay @BinesiM @jonkay @jessewente I wish all the positive experiences of residential school upon you and your family Barb.
— tanya tagaq (@tagaq) May 14, 2017
Kay got schooled in some history:
@BarbaraRKay @rankinovitch The Nazis got their ideas from Canada. Read some history.
— RedIndianGirl (@RedIndianGirl) May 14, 2017
Daniel Heath Justice told it like it is:
@BarbaraRKay @RachelAnnSnow @jonkay @jessewente Just because you have an opinion doesn't mean it's informed, helpful, or significant. You're way out of your depth here.
— Daniel Heath Justice (@justicedanielh) May 14, 2017
Inuk filmmaker, Alethea Arnaquq-Baril also spelled it out:
@BarbaraRKay @MichaelCowtan @jonkay @jessewente Those positive stories happened despite children being removed from their homes, not because of it.
— Alethea ArnaquqBaril (@Alethea_Aggiuq) May 16, 2017
And from MUSKRAT Magazine Editor, Rebeka Tabobondung:
While Kay did have the right to express her opinions she still needs to be held accountable for the impacts of their misinformation, hate and racism – and that’s exactly what happened by the many Indigenous voices and allies who spoke up and shut her down. Canadian institutions and media organizations should now do the same.
Thank you for your time, and cateloging all of what was said. This has to be told and explained, unfortunately so many times.
With pressure of social media, we all can be held responsible. It is always hard, and exhusting to speak and defend, especially when up against giants of media.
You are supported, you have all walks of life out there who agree with you and appreciate what you do.