Tłı̨chǫ Denounce False Information Published by Michael McKenzie

The Tłı̨chǫ Government, Tłı̨chǫ Community Services Agency and Community Government of Behchokǫ̀ Denounce False Information Published by Michael McKenzie

Behchokǫ̀, NT (July 1, 2021) - We are aware of a post circulating on Facebook with hurtful misinformation about the community of Behchokǫ̀ and Chief Jimmy Bruneau School made by a non-Tłı̨chǫ person, Mr. Michael McKenzie from British Columbia. The information contained in the post includes many hurtful and disrespectful portrayals about our community and school that are false. We denounce these comments.

 

The Tłı̨chǫ Nation is a self-governing Indigenous nation. The Community of Behchokǫ̀ is the hub of our nation and one of four Tłı̨chǫ communities. Our people practice our traditional way of life and continue to strengthen Tłı̨chǫ language and culture. The Tłı̨chǫ Community Services Agency that manages the Chief Jimmy Bruneau School is led by a board of Tłı̨chǫ people. The Chief Jimmy Bruneau School has an integral role in supporting our children to learn gonàowoò, our Tłı̨chǫ way of life, through the strong language and cultural programming the school offers and the Tłı̨chǫ laws and principles that guide the school.

 

We have our own people working in our school, teaching gonàowoò, and caring for our children. We will continue to govern ourselves according to gonàowoò and fulfill the vision of Chief Jimmy Bruneau to be ‘strong like two people’. We are proud of the vision and legacy that our great leader, Chief Jimmy Bruneau, had that led to the creation of this beautiful school and learning space in our community.

 

In the North, we have had some unfortunate experiences with outsiders coming into our community for short periods, making judgements and thinking they know what is best for us. In fact, this is exactly what Chief Jimmy Bruneau was protecting our people from when he advocated to have this school established in our community.

 

Our people are the voice for our people, no one else. Mr. McKenzie has no authority to speak on behalf of Tłı̨chǫ peoples or our experiences.

 

The words and post published by Mr. McKenzie is not only inaccurate, it is causing harm to Behchokǫ̀, Tłı̨chǫ people and Chief Jimmy Bruneau School. A letter will be sent, as we call upon Mr. McKenzie to take respectful action to reconcile the harm he has done, and delete his post immediately. A letter is also being sent to the Board of Tłı̨chǫ Łeàgı̨ą Ts'ı̨ı̨lı̨ Kǫ – Tłı̨chǫ Friendship Centre in Behchokǫ̀ requesting that they refrain from working with Mr. McKenzie in the future and requesting information about any steps they will take to rectify the harm he has caused. We are disappointed to see such harm inflicted on Tłı̨chǫ people by another Indigenous person and hope to see reconciliatory action taken immediately.

 

We understand that his post has been temporarily disabled, however we ask that if you see this post being circulated, not to repost it, but to share the link to this statement to help combat the hurtful misinformation about our people and community.

 

To learn more about our Tłı̨chǫ history and way of life, please learn directly from Tłı̨chǫ sources:

For more information contact [email protected]

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