Yellowknife Catholic School Board apologizes for employee's comments

The Yellowknife Catholic School Board has issued an apology for comments a board employee made online that many people viewed as racist.

Last month on Facebook, David Radcliffe called Tlicho hunters "animals" and their community hunt near LutselK'e a "slaughter."Radcliffewasco-ordinatorof aboriginal program activities for Yellowknife Catholic schools.

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In letters posted on the board's website, Chair Simon Taylor apologized to the Tlicho, the Dene Nation and the Dene community. He wrote that the board took "immediate and appropriate action," but did not specify what that was.

An advisor to the Tlicho Government says Radcliffe's comments show there's a need to teach people about the importance of caribou to Dene culture.

"There is no big huge employment in the communities,' says John B. Zoe. "People prefer to live that type of lifestyle, at the same time knowing that there are very many changes happening, so there has to be a balance of views that needs to be adjusted all the time."

The NWT Teachers Association's Code of Ethics requires all teachers to "show respect when they interact with the public."

The Code does not say what the consequences are for teachers who do not follow it.

Radcliffe is no longer listed as a staff person on the board's website.