Bigstone Cree Nation has declared a boycott of all goods and services from Slave Lake after a controversial social media post from a town councillor sparked heated digital debate, including calls for the councillor’s resignation and allegations of racism.
On July 28, the northern Cree Nation announced it will halt all business with vendors and organizations in Slave Lake and encouraged any band members and other First Nations to consider participating in the boycott.
“The objective of the boycott is not meant to disrupt our members daily necessities or of life, or access to necessary medical care,” said Troy Stuart, acting executive director and official spokesperson for Bigstone Cree Nation in a July 4 interview. “It’s making an impact to the Town of Slave Lake by withdrawing our purchases.”
The embargo came little more than two weeks after Bigstone Chief Andy Alook called for a public apology and the resignation of Slave Lake town councillor Shawn Gramlich over a mid-June Facebook post that ignited tense debate over treatment of Indigenous peoples and issues, the power of language, and a history of similar councillor comments.
The post
Gramlich’s post — which has since been removed from social media — consisted of a video of a white van accompanied by a wall of text. Though the post has been removed, screenshots of the original have been reuploaded to various pages without the video file.
“For too long, we have grappled with the consequences of rising crime and a lack of support services for those in need,” wrote Gramlich in the June 13 post. He cited resident’s reports of vehicles dropping individuals and groups off throughout town in recent months, first believed by himself and others to be tall tales, and discussed the recent closure of the Flat Top homeless encampment.
In a screenshot of the video attached to Gramlich’s post, a white passenger van with a logo on the rear window can be seen. In the text of the post, Gramlich said he watched the van, “employed by one of our neighbouring communities,” drop off multiple individuals at a residence with an open Safer Communities and Neighbours (SCAN) file.
SCAN is a government of Alberta and Alberta Sheriff initiative used to flag properties known to be associated with drug trafficking, gang-related activities, and sex work.
The fallout
One day after the post was made, Bigstone Cree Nation released a statement calling for an apology from Gramlich, his resignation from Slave Lake town council, and a commitment by the town and remaining councillors to pursue cultural sensitivity training.
“Bigstone Cree Nation expresses its deepest disappointment and concern over the slanderous remarks directed at our community,” read the June 14 statement, which referenced comments made in council by Joy McGregor in 2020 that resulted in a boycott by Driftpile Cree Nation.
“Such behaviour is not only unacceptable but also indicative of a broader issue of racism that must be addressed,” read the release.
Bigstone released another statement two weeks later, which said ample time to meet the asks had been given to Gramlich and the town, and as a result of the inaction, a boycott would be started.
Stuart said if Gramlich and the town had concerns involving the Nation and one of its vehicles, a direct call to Bigstone would have been the correct way to handle the situation, rather than heading first to social media.
“I think Mr. Graham should have taken a better approach becoming of a councillor, as opposed to a just a person, a regular everyday Joe posting a public statement,” said Stuart. “He’s not just a regular person, he’s a public official and there’s rules, procedures, protocols that you take.”
Support for both sides
On July 3, the Grand Chief of Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta Trevor Mercredi released a statement in support of Bigstone’s boycott, echoing the sentiment that Gramlich’s statement and implications defy the spirit of reconciliation and contradict commitments to joint healing made by the town.
The Alberta Native Friendship Centres Association also released a June 14 statement in support of Bigstone, and M.D. of Opportunity No. 17 Reeve Marcel Auger has been vocal about his support of the Nation. In an online response, Auger said Gramlich’s statement and the support he received from other leadership has left him “extremely disheartened.”
Gramlich has been backed by Slave Lake Mayor Francesca “Frankie” Ward, who noted in a post on her own Facebook the real issue at hand for Slave Lake councillors and residents is public safety.
Lesser Slave Lake MLA and Gramlich’s brother-in-law, Scott Sinclair, has also come out in support of Gramlich, defending his character and calling for a cessation of threats to the councillor and his family.
“This is not about race, it’s about public safety and people with addictions who have lost their way,” said Sinclair. “As an Indigenous person myself, I’m aware of people being racist and hateful to our people — I’ve experienced it my whole life — but the public outrage and cancel culture mentality needs to match the seriousness of the situation.”
Both Gramlich and Mayor Ward did not respond to requests for comment prior to publication.
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