An official in a town near the Saddle Lake First Nation in Alberta has sparked an outcry of racism for comments accusing Native people of being "the problem" when it comes to crime.

St. Paul council member Guy Germain told a local paper that a "small percentage" of Native people are responsible from crime in the town. He added: ""The hell we have to feel sorry for them, they are the problem."

German later apologized in a letter to The St. Paul Journal [http://www.spjournal.com] but his remarks prompted the First Nation to boycott businesses in the town and terminate all of its contracts with businesess there. One business owner said the boycott is having an impact because at least a third of his customers are Native.

Get the Story:
Alberta reserve boycotts town over alleged racism (CBC 3/1)
Racial tension leads to Saddle Lake boycott (CBC 3/1)
Every Alberta native should boycott St. Paul: association (The Edmonton Sun 3/1)