Manitoba Chiefs join growing calls for Bennett's resignation after Trudeau defends her

WARNING: This story contains distressing details.

The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs has joined a growing list of Indigenous groups and politicians calling for the resignation of Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett.

Bennett has been under fire this week after former justice minister Jody Wilson-Raybould revealed a private message that she received from Bennett that shecharacterized as racist.

Bennett swiftly apologized for the message, in which she appeared to imply that Wilson-Raybould criticized the prime minister because she fears losingaccess to an MP pension.

"I think she should find other things to do," Grand ChiefArlen Dumas told CBC's Power & Politics.

"Those comments are very inflammatory. At the moment,we're discovering unmarked mass graves all throughout the country. That's what our minister should be focused on."

WATCH:Grand ChiefArlen Dumasexplains why he thinks Carolyn Bennett should resign

'I think she should find other things to do,' | Grand Chief Arlen Dumas

3 years ago

Duration 8:03

Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Arlen Dumas joins Power & Politics to discuss why his organization supports the Union of B.C. Indian Chief's call for Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett to resign.

The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs has also called on Bennett to resign, telling the minister itis "deeply disturbed and disgusted by the extreme callousness, spite, and ignorance you have shown through the racist message."

The calls for Bennett's resignation come a day after a First Nation in Saskatchewan reported that it had discovered hundreds of unmarked graves at a former residential school.

The prime minister has apologized and condemned Canada's past treatment of Indigenous peoples while also defending Bennett.

Charlie Angus, NDP critic for Indigenous youth, continued to call for Bennett's firing on Friday.

"On a day when Canadians were grappling with the discovery of hundreds of more bodies in unmarked graves, the minister took a cheap, derogatory stab at an Indigenous leader grieving for these lost lives," Angus said in a statement.

Trudeau backs Bennett, says there's 'more work for her to do'

Trudeau spoke publicly for the first time todaysince Cowessess First Nation reported a preliminary findingThursday of 751 unmarked graves at a cemetery near the former Marieval Indian Residential School.

"This was an incredibly harmful government policy that was Canada's reality for many, many decades and Canadians today are horrified and ashamed of how our country behaved, about a policy that ripped kids from their homes, from their communities, from their culture and their language and forced assimilation upon them," Trudeau said outside his home at Rideau Cottage in Ottawa.

The report from Saskatchewancomes after the Tk'emlps te Secwpemc First Nationannounced last month that preliminary findings from a survey of the grounds at a former Kamloops Indian Residential School in B.C. revealed the remains of 215 children buried at the site.

WATCH:'We are sorry,' Trudeau says following report of 751 unmarked graves in Saskatchewan:

'We are sorry,' Trudeau says to Cowessess First Nation in Saskatchewan following report of 751 unmarked graves

3 years ago

Duration 3:17

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shares his thoughts about the reported discovery of 751 unmarked graves in Cowessess First Nation in Saskatchewan.

Trudeau also saidBennettwould remain at her post despite calls for her resignation because there is "more work for her to do" on the Indigenous file.

Yesterday,Bennett apologized publicly to Wilson-Raybould, who was Canada's first Indigenous justice minister,after suggesting in a private message to the MP that her concern over residential schools and Indigenous rights was really a ploy to secure a generous MP pension.

In a social media post, Wilson-Raybould attacked Trudeau yesterdayover what she called his "selfish jockeying for an election" and demanded he set those ambitions aside and commit to his 2018 promise to deliver transformative Indigenous rights legislation.

Bennett responded to Wilson-Raybould in a private message that consisted of a single word: "Pension?"Wilson-Raybould was one of 142 MPs elected for the first time on October 19, 2015, which means she wouldfail to qualify for her MP pension if she'sdefeated in an election before October 19, 2021.

"What minister Bennett did was wrong," Trudeau said."It was hurtful. And of course I am deeply disappointed," Trudeau said,addingthat Bennett "did the right thing by apologizing because it was the wrong thing to do."

"I spoke with Carolyn Bennett this morning. I know how hard she has worked and continues to work on this important file. I know her heart. I know the efforts she has put in over years on this. And we both understand there is now even more work for her to do. And I know we will do it together."

WATCH:'I am deeply disappointed' Trudeau reacts to angry exchange between Carolyn Bennett and Jody Wilson-Raybould:

'I am deeply disappointed': Trudeau reacts to angry exchange between Carolyn Bennett and Jody Wilson-Raybould

3 years ago

Duration 1:36

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Carolyn Bennett was "wrong" to get into an angry online exchange with MP Jody Wilson-Raybould.

Support is available for anyone affected by their experience at residential schools, and those who are triggered by the latest reports.

A national Indian Residential School Crisis Line has been set up to provide support for survivors and those affected. People can access emotional and crisis referral services by calling the 24-hour national crisis line: 1-866-925-4419. A Saskatchewan-based line is now available by calling 306-522-7494.