Two advocates for the South Asian community in the Northwest Territories say they’re not surprised by racist backlash following a recent music video, but Yellowknife can do better.
A music video, which surfaced last week and has since been taken down, showed a group of men driving cars around Yellowknife, flashing what appeared to be handguns and lip-syncing to a Punjabi rap song.
It sparked a flood of online reaction, including racist and threatening comments directed toward South Asians in the city.
People who spoke with CBC called the video “100 per cent inappropriate” and “embarrassing for their community” while condemning what they say was racist backlash.
The RCMP say they’re now investigating the video for potential unlawful firearms activity.
Silal Shafqat, president of the Association of South Asians in Yellowknife, said videos like that are part of Punjabi culture.
He said the video is inappropriate given the uptick of gang violence and drugs in N.W.T. communities and that guests on Indigenous land should be following, in this case, Yellowknives Dene laws, culture and values.
“Communities are suffering and it’s a big concern for communities, so having that displayed in a lighthearted manner is not in the best taste,” he said.
Shafqat said the people in the video have received death-threats and that backlash is also inappropriate.
“The guys are scared. Come on, like death threats, it’s serious. As a community, we need to do better.”
Sukham Dhindsa, a lawyer in Yellowknife who was born in Punjab, India, said she thought the video was something “lighthearted and fun.”
She said she sees the racism that followed as a way some people directed frustrations that may be more general in nature.
“People are looking to blame someone on the difficulties we’re facing in life right now — inflation, housing, et cetera — and South Asian people are unfortunately the target of that,” she said.
She said while it’s important to appreciate Indigenous culture and values, we can all learn from each other. Food and music are two examples of how we do that.
“Culture flows in many directions,” she said. “We are not a homogenous society.”
The maker of the music video, reached by phone, told CBC he would have to consult legal counsel before doing an interview on why his company made the video and how it’s been received.
In a news release Friday, Yellowknife RCMP said the filmmaker behind the videos has been co-operative in the investigation and that further information will be provided as it becomes available.
“Whether or not the intention of these individuals was to glorify gang culture in Yellowknife, these videos have been alarming for the entire community, including various racialized community groups,” stated Dyson Smith, the N.W.T. RCMP’s commanding officer.
He added that the video has “generated some negativity,” and any perceived threats of acts of violence will not be tolerated.
“Yellowknife is a diverse and accepting community, and the actions of a few should in no way be a reflection on the larger community.”
Something we need to confront as a community: MLA
Kieron Testart, MLA for Yellowknife’s Range Lake riding, said he met with some of the people involved in the video to discuss the controversy it sparked.
That controversy, he said, highlights the need to face issues of public safety and of racism that simultaneously exist in N.W.T. communities.
“This seemingly celebrates a huge problem that’s destroying Indigenous communities across the Northwest Territories,” Testart said, adding that residents also shouldn’t respond with hatred.
“These guys are experiencing threats from fake accounts and community boards and people hiding behind anonymous posting.”
In a Facebook post responding to the video, Testart had posted “gangsters go home.” He later apologized for the harm it caused the South Asian community, saying his intention was to condemn criminal gangs from southern Canada, not to platform racists and bigots.
“We have zero tolerance for gangs and gang culture in this community,” he told CBC. “I think I chose words poorly. And I apologize for those words.”
Testart said he hopes any community members who want to discuss the video and the feelings it brings up can do so in a mature and rational way.
“It’s a really sensitive issue, but it is something we need to confront as a community. And if we’re not able to do that, it’s just going to get worse.”
