A mother of four in British Columbia faced a child services investigation after she heckled a land acknowledgement at a school event, according to her lawyer. Lara Yates disrupted the ceremony at Chatelech Secondary School in Sechelt, B.C., in December, shouting 'save us your race-baiting' before sitting quietly for the remainder of the performance.
Background of the Incident
Yates had previously expressed her opposition to land acknowledgements to school staff, arguing they do not contribute to reconciliation. Her lawyer, Lisa Bildy, stated that Yates had tried to challenge the practice through private channels without success. She then decided to protest during a drama performance, giving advance notice through her daughter to the teacher.
Child Services Involvement
After the event, the school principal contacted the Ministry of Children and Family Development. Social workers interviewed Yates's two children living at home but quickly closed the file, finding no concerns. Bildy condemned the report as an attempt to silence political dissent, calling it 'reprehensible' and 'threatening.'
Legal and School Response
The principal also banned Yates from school premises for two months under Section 177 of the School Act. The Sunshine Coast School District stated it follows established protocols and legal obligations but declined to comment on the specific case. Yates is now pursuing legal action, arguing that land acknowledgements are quasi-religious rituals that should be banned from public schools and other government settings.
Broader Implications
Bildy emphasized that schools should remain neutral on political or sectarian matters. 'This has become a form of quasi-religious ritual now, at the beginning of all these performances, and not everybody agrees,' she said. The case highlights tensions over land acknowledgements and free speech in Canadian public institutions.
