Man Recalls Being Removed From Carson Graham High School and Facing Racism as a First Nations Student
Don Mathias recalls his time at Carson Graham High School as a painful chapter marked by discrimination, exclusion, and racism. As a First Nations student, he says the school system failed him and other Indigenous male students, leaving lasting scars that still shape his memories today.
Mathias says school administrators removed a group of First Nations male students from Carson Graham High School while allowing Indigenous female students to remain. He claims the decision reflected racial bias and a lack of protection for Indigenous youth. According to Mathias, a First Nations counselor at the school did not intervene or defend the students who were expelled. As a result, the removed students transferred to Keith Lynn School, which Mathias describes as a troubled environment that exposed them to further hardship.
One incident stands out sharply in his memory. Mathias recalls learning that a white student allegedly used a racial slur against his cousin. When he confronted her brother and saw no response, Mathias says he took matters into his own hands and went to Carson Graham High School to demand an apology. He states that the individual refused to apologize, escalating the situation into a physical confrontation.
Mathias emphasizes that his actions came from a deep sense of loyalty and protection toward his family and community. He says he cannot tolerate bullying or racism directed at those he loves. While he acknowledges that he has many more stories from that time, he chooses not to share them publicly, citing fear and ongoing tensions involving families within the Squamish Nation.
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