MPP takes to social media about incident involving Indigenous student at White Pines

An alleged incident involving an Indigenous student refusing to stand for the national anthem at White Pines Collegiate and Vocational School has been made public by Kiiwetinoong MPP Sol Mamakwa on social media. 

The Indigenous MPP took to Twitter on behalf of Grade 9 student Kelvin Boissoneau, who claims he was told by a teacher that he would “get his land back” if he stood for the national anthem:

Kelvin Boissoneau is a gr.9 student at White Pines School in Sault Ste. Marie. This video is from yesterday.

Kelvin told me his teacher told him standing for O’Canada will get his land back.

Also I asked him why he nodded in the video. His teacher asked him to stand up. pic.twitter.com/bae2c68T2O

— Sol Mamakwa MPP (@solmamakwa) September 29, 2021

“The student in the video did not reach out to staff at the school or board. We were made aware of the video by a third party,” said Joe Maurice, superintendent of well-being and Indigenous education for the school board, in a statement to SooToday. “After this was brought to our attention, school staff spoke with the student to better understand his concerns and elicit ideas on how we could work together. We do have some students in other schools in our district who are participating in similar protests.

“We remain committed to working with our students to support them in expressing their concerns and moving forward in a positive manner.”

Boissoneau has confirmed the story shared by Mamakwa during a brief conversation with SooToday Thursday. The White Pines student suggested that other Indigenous students at the school have also been upset by the incident. 

SooToday has reached out to Mamakwa for comment.