The Heiltsuk Nation family is speaking out against what they believe to be a case of racial profiling at a Canadian Tire store in British Columbia.
According to the family, they were shopping at the Canadian Tire in Prince George when they were approached by a store employee who accused them of stealing a chainsaw. The family, who had purchased the chainsaw earlier that day, were shocked and offended by the accusation.
The incident was captured on video by the family and has since gone viral on social media. In the video, the family can be heard explaining that they had already paid for the chainsaw and showing their receipt to the employee. However, the employee continued to insist that they had stolen the item.
The family believes that they were targeted because of their Indigenous heritage. They claim that they were the only Indigenous people in the store at the time and that the employee’s behavior was racially motivated.
The Heiltsuk Nation has released a statement condemning the incident and calling for an investigation into the matter. They are also demanding an apology from Canadian Tire and for the employee involved to be held accountable for their actions.
In response to the incident, Canadian Tire has issued a statement saying that they are taking the matter seriously and are conducting an internal investigation. They have also reached out to the family to apologize and offer a full refund for the chainsaw.
This incident has sparked outrage and calls for action from the Indigenous community and allies. Many are calling for Canadian Tire to implement anti-racism training for their employees and to address systemic racism within their company.
The Heiltsuk Nation family hopes that by speaking out about their experience, they can bring attention to the issue of racial profiling and discrimination faced by Indigenous peoples in Canada. They are also calling for accountability and meaningful action to be taken to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.
This incident serves as a reminder that racism and discrimination are still prevalent in our society and that more needs to be done to address these issues. The Heiltsuk Nation family’s story is a powerful reminder that we must continue to work towards creating a more inclusive and equitable society for all.
