Cutouts of orange T-shirts are hung on a fence outside the former Kamloops Indian Residential School, in Kamloops, B.C., Thursday, July 15, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS
In a unanimous decision, councillors in Quesnel, British Columbia, have moved to censure Mayor Ron Paull, asserting that his recent actions concerning a book denying the atrocities of Canada's residential school system have placed the city's relationship with Indigenous communities in jeopardy.
The motion to censure was initiated by Coun. Scott Elliott, who expressed deep concern over the damage inflicted upon the city's efforts to foster positive relations with Indigenous Peoples. Elliott emphasized the necessity of repairing trust between the city and Indigenous communities, particularly in the wake of revelations regarding the trauma inflicted by residential schools.
According to a report presented to the council, Mayor Paull was allegedly involved in attempting to disseminate a book titled "Grave Error: How the Media Misled Us (and the Truth about Residential Schools)" during a Cariboo Regional District board meeting, where he represented Quesnel. However, Paull refuted claims of actively distributing the book, stating that his commitment to Indigenous reconciliation is well-documented.
The book in question aims to counter what its editors perceive as a "moral panic" following the Tk'emlups te Secwepemc First Nation's announcement regarding the discovery of unmarked graves at a former residential school site in Kamloops, British Columbia, igniting a national reckoning with Canada's troubled history.
Following Mayor Paull's departure from the council meeting, the motion to censure him was passed, citing his actions as detrimental to the city's relationship with Indigenous communities, including the Lhtako Dene Nation. Sanctions were subsequently imposed on Paull, barring him from representing the city at various regional and municipal forums.
In response to the accusations, Mayor Paull clarified that he had innocently brought a copy of the book to the regional meeting and shared it with colleagues out of curiosity about its potential reception at the district's library. He maintained that any misinterpretations of his actions were unintentional.
Expressing support for the censure, Coun. Laurey-Ann Roodenburg underscored the financial implications of Mayor Paull's actions for the city, noting potential repercussions for funding received from the province contingent upon Indigenous engagement standards.
The resolution passed by the Lhtako Dene Nation, dated April 17, 2024, underscores the community's decision to sever ties with Mayor Paull due to his perceived endorsement of the book's denial of cultural genocide at residential schools.
The council meeting also featured poignant remarks from Lhtako Dene Chief Clifford Lebrun, who highlighted the profound impact of Mayor Paull's actions on survivors and their families, reopening deep wounds and hindering the healing process.
The broader context of Canada's residential school system, characterized by systemic abuse and neglect documented by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, underscores the gravity of Mayor Paull's actions and their implications for reconciliation efforts in Quesnel and beyond.
