"Mohawk Awarded $6,250 in Landmark Rights Case"

A Mohawk man from Brantford has won a ground-breaking human rights case protecting his political beliefs as a native, his lawyer says.

Alex Jamieson Jr., a Six Nations Mohawk, was discriminated against when he didn't get a job because of his political beliefs, the British Columbia human rights council has ruled.

In 1991 when living in Victoria, Jamieson was denied the opportunity for a government-funded job after he actively supported Mohawk Warriors in Oka and criticized the federal and provincial governments.

He has been awarded $6,250 - $2,250 for back wages and $4,000 in damages.

It's the first time in Canada that a native's beliefs have been recognized and protected as political, Jamieson's lawyer Larry Gilbert said Wednesday in an interview from Victoria.

Gilbert said it is rare for any person's political beliefs to be protected because it is hard to prove discrimination.

In addition, some organizations are permitted to discriminate, but as well some organizations have the right to discriminate. For example, the Liberal Party can refuse to hire a Reform Party member.

Gilbert said he felt the the decision may offer some protection to native people who are civil servants and speak out about how the government is dealing with native people and issues.

Jamieson, 36, supports the traditional Six Nations Confederacy.

In the summer of 1990, when Mohawk Warriors were maintaining barricades in Oka, Quebec, Jamieson had a summer position co-ordinating a youth program at a native friendship centre in Victoria.

In the fall, he returned to his studies at the University of Victoria but was politically active.

"He was very supportive of the Mohawks behind the barricades," said Gilbert, noting that Jamieson tried to raise money to send to the Mohawks.

"He was also very critical of the way the federal and provincial government treated native people."

Specifically, said Jamieson, he was critical of the Land Claims Task Force which was pushing to end native rights.

The next summer he again applied for his job at the friendship centre but he wasn't granted an interview, despite getting an excellent evaluation previously.

During a hearing in June, the human rights council heard that a memo had been circulated stating that Jamieson was "a troublemaker" and held beliefs that were not in accordance with the friendship centre.

"At the friendship centre, a group of people decided that because of Alex's political beliefs, he was not welcome," his lawyer said.

In his written decision, human rights council member Tom Patch stated: "I do not think it fair to blame the friendship centre for all the complainant's hurt.

"Nevertheless, it is clear to me that the friendship centre played a very important role in Jamieson's life. Its treatment of him contributed significantly to subsequent anger and hurt."

After failing to get hired and feeling alienated from the friendship centre, "he became

Since his return to Ontario, Jamieson has been active in the Brantford community. He has hosted a cable television show on native issues and was central in the Grand River island protest stopping a sewer line from crossing the river last winter.

The B.C. decision was handed down in December but Jamieson did not discuss the case until the 30-day appeal period expired.