By now, you may have read my last blog about what we can learn from Justin Bieber’s comments from a Rolling Stone article about his possible indigenous heritage. In case you haven’t, he is quoted in Rolling Stone as saying:
“I’m actually part Indian,” he says — “I think Inuit or something? I’m enough percent that in Canada I can get free gas.”
Part of our outreach to the Biebs
Our response was just one of many – many people across Canada and on the internet are upset about this evidently offhand remark that was not even the focus on the article in question. Some articles question why, precisely, the remark was upsetting, but I think we covered that in my earlier blog. The real question is: what do we do about it?
This is important because Justin Bieber’s remarks are emblematic of a pervasive confusion many Canadians (and others) have about Aboriginal peoples within Canada. We reached out to Bieber himself (you can see our Tweet to him above), as well as the editors of Rolling Stone asking for a correction to be published. But that doesn’t really seem like enough.
So we’re offering complimentary admission through the end of August for fans of Justin Bieber and anyone else who would like to learn about Aboriginal cultures. All you have to do is come to our front desk and say “No Free Gas But Free Admission”. And spread the word using “#NoFreeGasButFreeAdmission” on Twitter – the more people who can come, the better.
We may not be able to offer you free gas, but we can offer you free admission – and maybe a glimpse of Justin Bieber himself.
Update: If you tweet an accurate fact about Inuit or First Nations art or history with the hashtag #nofreegasbutfreeadmission, you can pick up a complimentary copy of our book Inuit Art in Canada during your visit.
-Posted by: Alysa Procida, MIA’s Director of Education, Operations and Outreach
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