Nanaimo newspaper letter draws First Nation's criticism

The Nanaimo Daily News is facing criticism once again this morning for its decision to publish a letter to the editor criticizing First Nations people.

In the letter titled "No groups in Canada should get special status," Nanaimo resident Bill McRitchie writes "I always have difficulty coming to grips with the condemnation of 21st Century Canadians by aboriginals for injustice suffered in the 18th, 19th and early 20th century."

Later he accuses aboriginals of clinging to their tribal system, and refusing to evolve as equal Canadian citizens.

Chief Douglas White of the Snuneymuxw First Nation responded on Twitter by saying,"Hundreds marched at [Vancouver Island University] on Friday and 70K marched in Vancouver yesterday and all @NanaimoDaily prints is another racist letter. Disgusting."

This past spring, 100 people protested outside the Nanaimo Daily News after it printed a letter titled "Educate First Nations to be Modern Citizens."

• Read more about the spring protest

Thrifty Foods pulled its ad campaign and publisher Hugh Nicholson apologized, saying the letter should have never been published.

Calls to Nicholson this morning have so far not been returned.