MC College in Saskatoon is apologizing to its First Nations students and clients, after an instructor made derogatory comments, which the screenshots were shared on social media.
The school for make-up, hair and fashion has suspended Chelsea Kowalchuck without pay while it investigates.
Kowalchuk was having a text conversation with Tami Eileen Whitehawk.
The screenshot in part read “Hahaha sorry you’re a fat ugly b**** that his family hates!! You are an Indian let’s face it his family disowns you. You are pathetic. You will never compare to me!! Only in your dreams,” Chelsea Kowalchuk allegedly wrote.
“This staff member has been suspended without pay until further notice while we investigate this further. We also would like to issue an apology to our existing First Nations students and clients. We have worked hard to build good relationships in the indigenous community and do not wish to have these relationships damaged over this incident,” MC College Joe Cairo said in a statement.
“MC College is extremely concerned of recently posted screenshots on social media of a personal text thread that involved one its instructors. Upsetting derogatory comments were made by the instructor. There is never an excuse to use such comments and we are saddened that a staff member felt the need to use them.”
The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations was quick to denounce the comments and called for the firing of the instructor.
“Racism and racist comments can never be justified or tolerated under any circumstances,” A Facebook statement read.
“We are calling on MC College Saskatoon to terminate this teachers position immediately. We can never allow professionals to make racist comments in public or behind the safety of a computer screen and then proceed to teach and educate our people without bias the next day.”
(Photo: MC College Saskatoon logo. Courtesy of Facebook.)