A Burnaby post-secondary institution is apologizing after the Métis Nation British Columbia was made aware of a "hurtful and offensive" opinion from a BCIT employee.
In a joint statement issued on May 9, the Métis Nation British Columbia (MNBC) says that on April 20, they received a letter anonymously that included an email from an employee at BCIT which included a hurtful message to members of the nation.
"The statements caused deep hurt to Métis Nation and the 90,000 Métis people in BC, representing one-third of the Indigenous people in the province," a joint letter issued by the school and the Métis Nation British Columbia stated.
"MNBC immediately reached out to BCIT for an explanation and review of the information."
BCIT says they took the complaint "very seriously" and investigated the issue internally, which was consistent with internal policies and legally mandated employee privacy and confidentiality considerations.
None of the contents included in the message have been released.
"BCIT recognizes and unreservedly apologizes for the deep harm such words have on Métis staff, faculty, students and citizens across the province."
"BCIT is committed to working collaboratively and respectfully with the Métis Nation B.C. and to being a leader, ensuring students of all distinct cultures feel respected and that they belong in the BCIT community."
Métis Nation British Columbia is the only Métis organization that is recognized provincially and federally as the official political representative of Métis citizens, which the British Columbia Institute of Technology also does in its capacity as a public post-secondary institution.
