Former Terrace Councillor Jessica McCallum-Miller has filed a human rights complaint against the city, mayor and a council member, nearly a year after resigning from her position citing systemic racism.

McCallum-Miller and her lawyer Barbara Findlay filed the complaint on Jan. 24 with the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal B次元官网网址� a specialized court that handles cases concerning discrimination and harassment based on sex, race etc.

Speaking with Black Press Media about her complaint against Terrace Mayor Carol Leclerc and Coun. James Cordeiro, McCallum-Miller said she had to make one of the hardest decisions of her life.

B次元官网网址淚t has taken me almost an entire year to weigh this decision,B次元官网网址� she said, adding, B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 still incredibly hurt by what took place.B次元官网网址�

The complaint falls within the tribunalB次元官网网址檚 time frame requirements to file a grievance within a year of the incident.

In doing so, McCallum-Miller said she is hoping for a resolution through a process of mediation, where wrongdoings are recognized and that First Nations of northwest are respected moving forward.

McCallum-Miller was unable to provide a copy of the complaint at the time of publishing this article.

In a Jan. 31 Facebook post, McCallum-Miller uploaded a personal statement to clarify her action and said it was an attempt to seek justice and personal healing.

In the statement, she also called on local governments across the province to undertake localized Indigenous cultural awareness training to better work with local First Nations and commit to advocating the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

In the same statement, she also listed the events that led to her resignation last year.

McCallum-Miller, who joined the City of Terrace as its youngest serving and first Indigenous councillor in 2018, said she witnessed B次元官网网址渞acial jokingB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址渉armful words B次元官网网址� shared by Cordeiro against Tsimshian peoples and the Kitsumkalum First Nation.

B次元官网网址淭his behaviour was not corrected by Mayor Carol Leclerc and therefore created a very toxic environment in the workplace. This behaviour was also witnessed by other members of council and no other member stated that this behaviour was inappropriate.B次元官网网址�

McCallum-Miller also cited two other instances that led to her departure from the council, one of which stemmed from her call for a localized cultural awareness training for staff, and second from a February 2020 media interview she gave expressing her personal views about LNG CanadaB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址渕an campsB次元官网网址� affecting womenB次元官网网址檚 safety in the area. Following this, she was asked by Cordeiro to issue a public apology for making a personal statement from the cityB次元官网网址檚 council chambers.

The allegations of racism still remain uninvestigated after the Office of the Ombudperson denied the cityB次元官网网址檚 request to probe into the matter.

Mayor Carol Leclerc was not aware of McCallum-MillerB次元官网网址檚 human rights complaint when Black Press Media reached out to her. Leclerc said they had not received any such notice.

When asked, Cordeiro also said he had not been notified of any formal complaints yet and declined to comment on the situation, if it were indeed now a legal issue.

However he did say that he had no interest in defending himself against McCallum-MillerB次元官网网址檚 actions and responded to the allegations of racism saying, B次元官网网址淪he is entitled to her opinion and feelings.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚 hope that sheB次元官网网址檚 able to work things out and I wish her success,B次元官网网址� said Cordeiro.