TNG rejects "non-apology" of Williams Lake Mayor Walt Cobb and renews its' call that he resign from office

Courtesy of the Tsilhqot'in National Government:

The Tŝilhqot’in Nation is rejecting Williams Lake Mayor Walt Cobb’s disgraceful attempt at an apology in response to a lengthy statement the Mayor shared on social post in support of the residential school system (since deleted). The Tŝilhqot’in Nation is renewing calls for Mayor Cobb to resign as yet another racist statement circulates on social media.

The Tŝilhqot’in Nation initially called for Mayor Cobb’s resignation after he shared a lengthy opinion piece on social in defence of residential schools, that included such statements as “[t]he churches do not need to apologize for trying to educate the poor in the only system that would work for nomadic peoples” and “many of the new generations just want to be victims and feel the money would solve their pain”

Last evening at a City Council meeting, Mayor Cobb stated he was “sorry” for causing offence, but also criticized the concerns raised by First Nations leadership as a “personal attack” that “does not strengthen any relationship that we have been trying to build”. Council members all denounced the Mayor’s comments but all stopped short of demanding that the Mayor resign.

At the same time, screen captures circulating on social media appear to document another post (since deleted) from Mayor Cobb’s personal account, reportedly around the same time period, commenting “… my mother in law used to say if it was shitty weather let the Indians have it.” The Tŝilhqot’in Nation continues to condemn the racist words and actions of Mayor Cobb and calls for his immediate resignation

TNG Tribal Chair Joe Alphonse stated:

"It is past the point of apologies and saying sorry to cause offence. This is not an isolated incident. This is a pattern, this is a state of mind, and it is unacceptable in a leader in this day and age. By his words and actions, Walt Cobb has lost all authority to govern and can no longer be Mayor. This Williams Lake City Council will lose all legitimacy if it wrings its hands but does nothing to remove him from leadership. He has made it very clear that he has no care or regard for Indigenous peoples in Williams Lake and the surrounding communities. Is this something the City Council and the people of Williams Lake are prepared to stand behind? Walt Cobb is an embarrassment to Williams Lake, he brings shame to this region, and it is time to turn the page and do better”.