'Hopefully, things will heal'

COEUR d'ALENE — The shawls worn by tribal members in downtown Coeur d'Alene on Thursday were a mix of colors.

There was a stream of orange, red, yellow, blue and black as young and old walked down Sherman Avenue on a cloudy afternoon.

But they shared a common message: Skin should not matter.

Sadly, for some, it does, said some of those in the "Shawls in Solidarity" walk against racism

"People are pretty comfortable throwing out slurs," said Dixie Stensgar of The Coeur d'Alene Tribe. "It needs to be uncomfortable again.”

She was joined by about 25 other Native women as they walked quietly on Sherman Avenue and returned to The Coeur d'Alene Public Library through McEuen Park and Front Avenue. There was little response by passersby.

“We, Native women living in what is now the state of Idaho, have an indigenous connection to this land," a press release said. "We felt called upon to make a statement by simply showing up, letting the community know that we are here, will always be here, and will not be intimidated by racists who want to make themselves known in Coeur d’Alene." 

“We honor the Women’s basketball team from the University of Utah, who have the same right to live, work, play, eat, on these precious lands, as anyone else, without being harassed," the release said. "We are here to express our solidarity with them. We know what it is like to feel 'other than.'"

“Our presence here is for all women in Idaho, even those who support and love their young adult sons who committed these acts of racism," the release said. "We want to ensure that all women feel empowered and safe in Coeur d’Alene.”

The rally was in response to a March 21 racial incident reported in downtown Coeur d’Alene involving the University of Utah's women's basketball team and others with them. People in trucks reportedly revved engines and shouted racial slurs at the group after they visited a Sherman Avenue restaurant. 

A few days later, city leaders held a press conference and apologized.

Coeur d'Alene police said Wednesday that audio and video recordings they have reviewed corroborate reports of what happened, and they were looking for the driver of a silver sedan in connection to the incident.

Stensgar said a stronger stance must be taken against racism.

"I don’t think we’re as vocal as we could be in regards to racism and the words that are being said out there," she said. "I think the response needs to be loud and clear that racism has no roots here in Idaho, especially in the city of Coeur d'Alene, and it’s not OK."

Liz Arthur-Attao and Rachel Paisano-Edwards of the Nez Perce Tribe made the two-hour trip to Coeur d'Alene and were side by side for the walk that was nearly a mile long

"We're just bothered with what happened. Things like that hurt," Arthur-Attao said. "It shouldn’t be. I think we’ve all gone through something like that, very hurtful things."

She said they wanted to lift spirits with Shawls in Solidarity.

"Hopefully, things will heal," Arthur-Attao said.

She said Coeur d'Alene has "very good people," and "just a very few" who are not.

"This is beautiful Coeur d’Alene tribal land," Arthur-Attao said.

Rachel Paisano-Edwards said she was appalled by what happened.

"We want to show we don't accept that for here," she said.

Paisano-Edwards said she believes racism in the country has actually gotten worse in recent years, rather than going away.

"It’s been accepted under the previous president. Everybody thinks it’s OK to act this way toward other people, rather than with respect and inclusion," she said.

Diosa Bahe of the Kootenai Tribe said she and others felt that government agencies in Idaho didn’t support the Utah women's basketball team as much as they should have.

So she walked Thursday, wearing a beautiful shawl of different colors and the silhouette of an eagle.

"We just wanted the Idaho community to know that it’s safe to come here, the tribal governments do stand against racism," Bahe said. "It’s important to show up in solidarity for that message.”

    Walkers, including Diosa Bahe, with orange shawl, join "Shawls in Solidarity" in downtown Coeur d'Alene on Thursday.
  

    Rachel Paisano-Edwards, left, and Liz Arthur-Attao of the Nez Perce Tribe take part in the "Shawls in Solidarity" walk on Sherman Avenue on Thursday.