Simeon Tshakapesh, chief of the Mushuau Innu band council in Natuashish, says he accepts the apology of Steele Communications General Manager Mike Murphy, but his opinion on what should become of Open Line host Randy Simms remains unchanged.
“Randy Simms is out of line and he should be taken off the air and he should never be put on the airwaves again.”
Murphy’s broadcasted apology came almost a month after an on-air spat between Simms and Tshakapesh.
Simms called Tshakapesh “stupid” during a confrontation over the chief’s decision to hunt the George River caribou after a provincial five-year ban was put into effect. The call ended with Simms hanging up on the chief.
Simms apologized the next day for the incident saying he regretted the way it had spiralled out of control and that he had broken his own rule to keep his show in a debate format.
Murphy told The Telegram on Tuesday that this additional apology was from VOCM and was to Chief Tshakapesh, the Innu people and VOCM listeners.
“I do sincerely accept Mike Murphy’s apology and it meant a lot to the Innu people,” Tshakapesh says, but adds that while everyone is entitled to their opinion, Simms promotes hatred on air.
He says his next step will be to take the matter before the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission.
josh.pennell@thetelegram.com
