By: Colleen Romaniuk, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Sudbury Star
For the past two years, Matt James said he has patiently waited for the COVID-19 pandemic to “blow over.”
Mindful of the dangers of the virus, the Indigenous country music singer and former salon owner from Mattagami First Nation said he “practised caution” in the early days of the pandemic by following public health guidelines and heeding provincial lockdowns.
James, who now lives in Sudbury, said he also remained silent about how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted his life even as he lost a career, close family relationships, financial stability, and emotional well-being.
But when he learned that a cross-country trucker convoy was on its way to Ottawa in protest of COVID-19 vaccine mandates and passport systems, he decided it was time to speak up.
“I had my life ripped away from me for the past two years, and I haven’t said anything about it until now,” said James.
“I didn’t use my voice to try and make a difference at first because I have so much on the line. By coming forward, I am risking my name, my reputation, and everything I’ve worked so hard for.”
Despite the risk, the country music singer said he knew he was “between a rock – and a rock.”
“If I don’t say something now, I could lose my life and everything I’ve worked so hard for.”
James was part of a group of about 50 people who traveled from Sudbury to Ottawa last week in support of the trucker convoy, which has amassed both criticism and support since it departed from western Canada on Jan. 23.
It all started when a small group of Alberta truckers decided to protest a new federal mandate that came into effect on Jan. 15, convoy organizers said in a release.
The mandate requires Canadian truckers to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 if they want to avoid a 14-day quarantine when crossing the United States border.
The small protest quickly grew into something of a movement backed by thousands of frustrated Canadians questioning the way all levels of government have handled the COVID-19 pandemic.
When the convoy passed through Greater Sudbury on Jan. 28, hundreds of people gathered along Highway 17 from Lively to Coniston and beyond to show their support.
“I was blown away. There were people lined up on the side of the highway for almost every stretch of mile from Sudbury to North Bay,” said James.
“We rolled into Ottawa about three and a half hours before the convoy. We were trying to get ahead of them so that we could settle, put on 10 layers of clothes, and prepare to greet them with as much energy as possible.”
James said he decided to join the convoy because he felt it was his chance to use his platform to “actually do some good.” He recognizes how much Canadians have suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic, and he wants to “give people hope.”
The former salon owner ran a successful business in Sudbury for a number of years. By chance, he sold his salon just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit in the spring of 2020.
Although he said that was “a blessing in disguise,” he was quickly faced with a new reality: unemployment. He decided to try his hand at opening a salon in his own home but the Ontario government shut him down.
“I spent thousands and thousands of dollars on my home salon, and then we weren’t allowed to cut hair. If I had known all of this was going to happen, I wouldn’t have spent a dime,” he said.
“I tried to apply for government assistance. Although I had already applied for my salon license and had my HST number, I didn’t qualify for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB).”
James added that his passion – singing country music – was also taken from him during the pandemic. He wasn’t able to perform because most concert venues and festivals were also shut down.
“I had all of that stripped off. That’s like taking a big piece of my heart,” he said, adding that the financial and emotional struggles continued to add up.
“Before the pandemic, I had a guitar in my hand all day long. It was like a part of me. When all of this happened, I went a very long time without even touching my guitar.”
Arriving in the nation’s capital last weekend, surrounded by so many protesters, James admitted that it was a little intimidating at first.
“When I first got there, I was scared. I felt a little bit lost – but I took that very first step and started marching. The stuff I saw there was unbelievable,” he said.
“I saw people feeding each other, taking care of each other, sheltering each other. Nobody was towering over one another. If you were down, there was somebody to pick you up.”
He said that the crowd was both peaceful, as far as he saw, and “very diverse.”
“There was someone from every single race, from every country, from every culture, every identity, and every community. It was such a beautiful thing to see,” he said.
“I saw no discrimination at the protest. Nothing at all. When I heard (Prime Minister) Justin Trudeau addressing our country, my heart sank. I almost started going numb in a sense because I felt like the way he spoke about the convoy was really, really bad.”
Trudeau said Monday and said that he won’t give in to the trucker convoy protest.
“I want to be very clear: we are not intimidated by those who hurl abuse at small business workers and steal food from the homeless,” he said.
“We won’t give in to those who fly racist flags. We won’t cave to those who engage in vandalism or dishonour the memory of our veterans.”
The comments were made in response to media reports that protesters were seen waving Nazi and Confederate flags, gathering on top of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and defacing Ottawa’s Terry Fox statue.
James said Trudeau’s statements did not reflect what he saw.
“I actually saw a family, who I think was from Israel, standing around the Terry Fox statue, cleaning it up and taking care of it,” he said.
“It’s kind of a funny story, actually. This family, who now lives in Manitoba, were standing there taking care of this statue, but they didn’t really understand who he was or what it meant. I had to go over and fill them in.”
Trudeau’s statements couldn’t be further from the truth, he added.
“I say shame on Justin for using my culture, once again, to further his political game. I know that’s what he’s doing because it’s the easiest way to get us going,” he said.
“As an Indigenous man, I’ve been fighting for my entire life for my place in this world. Right now, I think Canadians – and that means all Canadians – just want their voices heard. We want back what’s ours. And that’s our lives.”
It was through tears that James explained that following public health guidelines throughout the COVID-19 pandemic left him feeling “isolated from the world” and increasingly depressed.
“I never opposed the mandates. I was careful and I did my part,” he said.
“But when I chose not to get vaccinated, I was judged for my choice. I have family members, sisters, who are vaccinated. Family members who won’t even talk to me anymore. I would never judge them for the choice that they made.”
He added that he hopes the trucker convoy and the resulting protest will help the opposing sides come to an understanding.
“Everyone is saying that you have a choice, but when you have something held over your head or you’re given an ultimatum, it doesn’t make that choice easy,” he said.
“I want everyone to hear what we have to say without running away or hiding. What kind of leader wouldn’t want to hear what his people have to say? I’ve been discriminated against my entire life as an Indigenous man, so I know what it feels like.”
James said a lot of Indigenous peoples in Canada haven’t been given the “chance to heal.”
“We have the world watching right now. Now is the time to bring our voices forward,” he said.
“We’re all fighting for the same thing – to be heard. I want everyone in this country to feel safe. I’m for you. I’m with you. Whatever that means, because I am not here to take anything away from anybody,” he said.
“I am leaving to go back to Ottawa … We’re all feeling like it was a place to come and heal. Whatever you’re trying to heal from, we’re here for you. That’s why I am going back.”
Since speaking out against COVID-19 vaccine mandates, James said he’s been receiving his fair share of hate mail.
“I’ve had pretty bad hate speech coming at me, including people wishing that I would die and stuff like that,” he said.
“I’m glad that when I am down in Ottawa, it’s nothing but love and support.”
Latest developments on the Convoy in Ottawa
– A class-action lawsuit on behalf of Centretown residents in Ottawa seeks $9.8M for for emotional, mental and other distress and punitive damages.
– GoFundMe says no further funds will be directly distributed to the Freedom Convoy organizers
– The Ottawa Police Service says it’s launching a “surge and contain strategy” with partners to tackle the protests
– Leaders of the trucker protest say they won’t leave until mask and vaccine mandates are ended, numbers expected to rise Saturday
– Ontario Premier Doug Ford on Friday called the trucker protest in Ottawa “unacceptable” and called for it to end
– Ottawa area Liberal MPPs are urging Ford and Solicitor General Sylvia Jones to enact a piece of legislation that would allow policing costs during the ongoing anti-mandate protests to be recouped from organizers
– Farmer convoys arriving in Ottawa Saturday, according to MPP who supports convoy
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