In googling around on the Keeseekoose story, I ran across this oddly presented quote in the Star Pheonix on Oct.28.
And while hundreds of people are being flown out of a remote northern Ontario First Nation because of an E. coli outbreak in the water, Health Canada says six Saskatchewan reserves are under a boil water advisory. Segments of the Peepeekisis, Standing Buffalo, Poundmaker, Sweetgrass, Keeseekoose and Cumberland House First Nations are under the advisory, but don’t have E. coli contamination.
“I think if anything, the Native situation in Saskatchewan is better than the (Caucasian) situation,” said Hans Peterson, executive director of the Safe Drinking Water Foundation.
Emphasis mine.
Notice the parenthesis around the word “Caucasian” – in a quote, no less.
Why? Did Hans Peterson skip a word? Or did the writers – Janet French, Julie Saccone and Dan Jungwirth – decide to use “Caucasian” in place of something else?
Could it be that “white” has joined the growing list of words considered too politically incorrect to grace the pages of our fair paper, even for use in a direct quote?
I’d love to hear an explanation.