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On the newspaper’s website, Turcotte and his wife, managing editor Lorraine Ayotte-Turcotte, wrote an editorial pointing out criticism of the Idle No More movement made by other media outlets, and then addressed the controversy directly.

“As two of our children are also Metis, we are very well aware of the challenges of First Nations People,” they wrote. “Having been brought up in British Columbia and having been a friend of Chief Dan George, we find the Natives there much more progressive than in Manitoba or Ontario.

“We apologize to those we offended in that regards, however, we stand by the fact that the Natives must work to get out of their situation rather than sit ‘Idle No More.’ ”

The newspaper’s online edition also published several letters critical of the “thumb’s down” column, the subsequent editorial and the cartoon.

“Watch your back, editor, you have First Nations living a few miles down the road,” wrote Delmar Peters. “You sure don’t mind the First Nation dollars that come through your community. Native terrorists? You haven’t seen nothing yet!”

Tammy Peters, who identified herself as aboriginal, wrote she was saddened and disgusted by the article.

“It is fair to say you have the right to express your opinions but I must say that the reason our society hasn’t progressed in regards to racism is because of the views expressed in this article.”

Mayor Gavin van der Linde also wrote to the Morris Mirror urging more people to “speak out against such ignorance and racism.”