Harper's Quebec chief apologizes after Algonquins offended

[The following story was in the daily news a week or so ago. It was sent here by an Aboriginal person who put her comments at the end. What fascinates me are some of the responses sent in to the Globe & Mail’s website on how people saw it: Ignorance
is a weapon of mass destruction.]
  Harper's Quebec chief apologizes
        after Algonquins offended
MONTREAL (CBC) - The office of a Conservative MP and cabinet minister has issued an apology to Algonquins in his western Quebec riding after his personal assistant made remarks that some denounced as racist.
 The comments made by Darlene Lannigan came at the Maniwaki, Que., launch of the re-election campaign of Lawrence Cannon, transport minister and Conservative Leader Stephen Harper's Quebec lieutenant earlier this week.
  In a conversation recorded by the Aboriginal People's Television Network outside Cannon's Maniwaki campaign office during its opening Tuesday, Norman Matchewan, a member of the Algonquins of Barriere Lake, asked Lannigan if he will be arrested if he visits Cannon's campaign office.
 The Barriere Lake reserve is about 300 kilometres northwest of Ottawa in Cannon's riding of Pontiac, and a group including Matchewan had visited the office for a rally.
  "If you behave and you're sober and there's no problem and if you sit down and whatever, I don't care," a female voice that the network identified as Lannigan responds in the recording.
  She goes on to say that "one of them showed up the other day and was drinking."
  When contacted by CBC News, Lannigan would not deny she made the remarks.
 The Algonquins allege Lannigan also made other crude comments.
  Cannon's office issued its apology Wednesday after being asked about the incident by the Aboriginal People's Television Network.
  "We would like to take this opportunity to apologize for any offence given," it said. "We also understand these comments were made in a difficult context. That is regrettable."
  The statement also said the remarks don't reflect the views of the government of Canada, and the parties involved will meet later this week.
  Matchewan, 25, said he didn't think the context in which the remarks were made was difficult.
  "We showed up in a respectful manner. We were peaceful," the teacher and part-time police officer said Thursday. "What she said was very offensive. It only goes to show how much they disrespect our community."
  Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe said the remarks were a reflection of the Conservative party as it heads toward the Oct. 14 election.
  "It's another example of the kind of contempt and arrogance they have, especially I would say towards the First Nations," he said.
  "What I'm talking about [is] that kind of ideology that doesn't correspond to Quebec and I would say human values.... I think it's [the] kind of people we have in that party, sadly."
                         Submitted by Sylvia Sharon Isaac
Hello Folks
   I do not know about you but I was so upset when I heard a women addressed an aboriginal protester, shot down by Darlene Lannigan. Her comment not only shocked me, it also angered me. Another racial quote and so damning and put me back to when our People were sterotyped as "alcoholics, falling down drunks and other words like lazy indians - living off the government.
     SHAME ON Darlene Lannigan
Comments from G&M’s webpage:
WHAT? How low is the media going to sink to sabotage the Conservatives campaign? Explain ONE word of that statement that is offensive, let alone requires an apology. How about the "natives" issue apologies for their illegal land occupations.