'We do not like your kind': Threatening letter demands Alta. family 'move out'

CTVNews.ca staff with a report from CTV Edmonton's Jeremy Thompson

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Warning: This story contains disturbing language.

Police in an Alberta community are investigating after an Indigenous family found a racist letter on their doorstep urging them to “move out.”

“We see you in your house and you portray an Indian lifestyle. This is not accepted here,” the letter reads, threatening to continue harassing the Leduc family: “This will not stop until you are gone. Move out.”

Thirteen-year-old Jimmy Assiniboine’s family was shocked to discover the letter on their doorstep New Year’s Day.

“I didn’t know that people still did this,” he told CTV Edmonton, adding that his mother spent time in a residential school. “I thought they were done with that.”

The writer criticized the family’s “lifestyle,” taking particular aim at children’s toys and the upkeep of their home. “If you cannot take care of your property then go back to the Indian reservation where it is accepted,” it reads. “We gave you land and you need to respect the generosity.”

The letter bears a striking resemblance to one received in October by an Indigenous family in St. Albert, Alta., addressed to “the very unwanted and hated neighbours” in that community. “Move out or things will escalate,” read the letter received by mother of three Katrina Anderson. “Would not want to see the kids getting hurt. This isn’t a reserve,” it said.

Anderson’s family decided to move after receiving that letter, which includes much of the same language as the one Assiniboine’s family found earlier this week, sentiment the Deputy Mayor described as uncharacteristic of Leduc. “This letter does not represent the spirit of our community, which is one of diversity and inclusion,” said Bill Hamilton in a statement Wednesday.

The incident is under investigation by police, but isn’t the first time the family says they have been harassed. They have put up protective rocks around their front lawn to prevent people from using vehicles to ruin their grass. The air has been let out of their car tires before, said Assiniboine, and the bolts were even loosened once. They didn’t notice until another driver alerted them on the road. By then, the rim had warped.

“My mom is a sweet person, I don’t know why anyone would do this, because that could have killed us,” he said.

Despite the pressure to move, the 13-year-old is adamant his family stay put. “We need to stay here,” he said, “or we’ll show them that we’re easy to push out.”

#Leduc's Deputy Mayor Bill Hamilton issues a statement in response to a hateful letter received by local Indigenous family. https://t.co/ip1wDFjMyr

RELATED IMAGES An excerpt from the letter the Assiniboine family received on the doorstep of their Leduc home on January 1.


— City of Leduc (@CityofLeduc) January 2, 2019