CREMONA— Aiming to generate a conversation about discrimination in rural communities, RAAR- Rural Alberta Against Racism held a community sharing event and discussion in Cremona on Saturday (July 11).
RAAR organizer and event speaker Taylor McNallie helped host the community discussion in Cremona. The goal of the event was to help facilitate conversations that help people understand the effects of racism and discrimination in their community.
“I wanted to bring this community discussion into Cremona because I lived there as a kid and it did play a huge part in who I am today,” McNallie said. “I did experience racism there and discrimination.”
She said RAAR faced some backlash in the lead up to the event. McNallie added that she expects a part of this may be because racism is a difficult topic to talk about and unpack.
People have told McNallie that "racism does not exist" in rural areas of the province. She explained it is hurtful hearing this because it diminishes the painful experiences of racism people of colour have faced and the role it has played in shaping their lives.
Because of this, it is critical to bring issues to light in rural areas of Alberta and acknowledge that racism does not end at the city limits, she said.
The Black Lives Matter discussion served as a chance to laugh, clap and cry, McNallie said, adding that many felt angry when hearing the first-hand experiences of those that face racism.
It was critical to address different types of discrimination because it can show people that they need to look out for each other and foster a more inclusive and positive environment for everybody.
Guest speakers from all backgrounds shared their experiences, including those that have experienced racism first-hand and those who have played witness to discrimination.
The key part of the conversation is encouraging unity, McNallie said, explaining that conversations emphasize building a positive community.
“It’s very important to hold a space for black lives to share their experiences, as well as Indigenous lives, but the unity of bringing everybody together to share our experiences is so important so that we can find a way to work together and fix that,” McNallie said. “We don’t want to silence anybody.”
McNallie said she encourages people to keep having conversations with family and friends to ensure the message shared by RAAR continues to grow.
She appreciates how it can be scary for people to step forward and talk about racism to create active change in communities, but added that when RAAR leaves communities the group provides calls for actions to help people remember that they are not alone.
“Racism shouldn’t be a thing you disagree with,” McNallie said.
Helping to facilitate the community discussion Cremona High School alumni Tanya Lee said, the event served as an opportunity to speak to an important issue while supporting friends who have experienced racism first-hand.
“There’s still denial that racism exists and the system is feeding it and something needs to change,” Lee said.
She added that there is power in people sharing their first-hand accounts of racism and discrimination because it can help people understand why active change is needed in Canadian society.
The conversations at the community discussion centred on listening to these encounters and learning why it is necessary to care for those who are enduring racism in their daily lives, she said.
Encouraging people to focus on how they can unite and support each other, Southern Alberta farmer Lonny Averill highlighted how the Black Lives Matter hits home for him because he has friends from all backgrounds.
“This movement matters a lot to me,” Averill said. “I’m here to make a little noise.”
Averill said he wants the message to focus on peaceful conversations as opposed to the violent protests and looting that has been showcased by some media outlets.
He added that the Black Lives Matter movement highlights the need to acknowledge class disparity within Canada and its need to be part of the conversation.
“I think it is the root of the problem,” Averill said.
He hopes people take time to stop and reflect on the movement, Averill said, and focus on sharing facts with their peers.
Cheryl Baptiste spoke at the event and said she was grateful to engage with an active group while in Cremona.
Baptiste travelled from Red Deer to speak in Cremona and said it was incredible to see conversations about the Black and Indigenous Lives Matter movement take place in a more rural area of the province.
“We definitely need the Indigenous representation," Baptise said. "In my opinion, I feel the racism towards Indigenous people is just as bad as it is in the US towards the African American community."
It is exciting attending discussions because the province has a vibrant community that is growing and includes people of all ages and backgrounds.
When she speaks, Baptise said, she tries to highlight the discrimination and misconceptions she faces as an Indigenous woman living in Canada.
This includes educating people about the countries Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
Baptiste said it has been surprising to see that many people who attend events are not always familiar with the issue.
Education is the key to understanding how racism hides in the shadows of Candian culture, she said. Baptiste added that she hopes talks during these events spark a fire in people to research and find out more about being anti-racist.
“It’s a good way to start a conversation and spread information,” Baptiste said. “It’s important to get into the nitty-gritty.”
RAAR will be hosting Black Lives Matter community discussions in Didsbury on Saturday (July 18) at 1 p.m. and in Drumheller on Sunday (July 26) at 2 p.m.
