WINNIPEG — A Winnipeg mother is outraged after her 7-year-old son’s homework included reading a book that referred to Indigenous characters as “Indians.”
“This book was not okay, I actually stopped my son from reading it,” Cara McDougall said.
Her son attends George V school in Elmwood and brought two books home to read as homework on Friday. The one that she found offensive is called “How Spider Saved Thanksgiving” which portrayed a bug wearing a head dress and used the word “Indians” several times. McDougall said her husband is Metis and was upset to see it still circulating in the classroom.
“I would like none of these books to be given to any body,” McDougall said. “Any book that has any sort of wording like this should be taken out of the school system all together.”
The Winnipeg School Division refused an on camera interview but sent Global News an email saying:
“Winnipeg School Division school staff work very hard to ensure reading materials in the classroom and sent home are culturally sensitive and aware. If it does occur that a book has pejorative terms, we appreciate parents and students helping by letting the school know right away so that we can ensure the book is removed.”
The division also said they removed additional copies of the book from the classroom.
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