AAMJIWNAANG FIRST NATION – The phone was ringing off the hook at a small diner here Saturday, but the majority of the calls were heated conversations about a pro-Russia message posted on the daily-specials board and not about what was warming on the grill.
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The Leaky Tank, a small breakfast-and-lunch-only truck stop in the First Nation south of Sarnia that has been charged for blurring public-health rules, regularly features controversial handwritten messages on a whiteboard below a trio of menu items.
But Friday’s statement, which claimed Russia is “de-Nazifying” Ukraine and not occupying it, created a social-media firestorm after photos of it surfaced online.
“I think it’s absolutely disgusting what they posted,” said Sarnia resident Tammy Noszenko, who is married to a Ukrainian man. “It’s offensive.”
Jeff Plain, an Aamjiwnaang community member, said it “definitely” crossed the line.
“That’s (expletive) sick,” he said.
The Aamjiwnaang band council issued a statement Saturday saying the post was “offensive” for many people who viewed it.
“The chief and council of Aamjiwnaang want to make it clear that we do not condone the message that was delivered, and those values are not in line with our council and a large majority of the community we serve,” the statement said. “Our thoughts are with those in Ukraine who are suffering and at risk, and we are praying for peace.”
Chris Plain, the First Nation’s chief, did not immediately respond Saturday to a request for comment.
“Bravo: Chief Plain and Aamjiwnaang Council,” Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley said on Twitter in response to the statement.
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It’s not clear who wrote the message at the DeGurse Drive diner in the shadow of Sarnia’s Chemical Valley. When asked Saturday if owner Sherry Stewart was the author, staff only replied she’s the owner.
A message left for Stewart was also not immediately returned. Staff at the diner said she typically doesn’t work weekends.
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In response to the initial backlash, the diner posted this on its Facebook page Friday: “If disagree with someone hate them with all You’ve got !! That’s how it’s done these days!”
But another post was added Saturday apologizing for the “firestorm” the handwritten statement caused and asked the public to leave staff alone as they were in “tears” over some of the calls they were getting.
“My thoughts have nothing to do with the people who work for me and my passion blinded me in my post and not considering all who could be affected,” said the unattributed post. “Leave them alone please.”
The Observer spoke with multiple staff working at the diner Saturday. They did not want to be identified or quoted, but in general they said they answered many calls they felt were harassing.
But it was a typical Saturday from a business standpoint and customers were generally polite, they said.
Plain said the restaurant typically draws an anti-vaccine crowd.
“So we’ll see how much they support them,” he said. “I don’t support anybody that’s going to be doing (expletive) like that.”
A video previously posted on the diner’s Facebook page showed what appeared to be Stewart going toe-to-toe with a Lambton public health staffer, who was there attempting to educate her that she was supposed to be closed amid a provincial shutdown. She responded by saying the business is located on “sovereign” land and the rules don’t apply there.
Noszenko’s husband has been a customer in the past, but he told her he’s “done” eating there.
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“Same with me,” she said. “It’s very upsetting. It’s been a really tough few days for all Ukrainian-Canadians and Ukrainians.”
A call to boycott the business was included on a Reddit thread reacting the post that drew more than 650 comments.
THE POST AND THE APOLOGY
A handwritten message posted Friday at The Leaky Tank said: “FYI… Russia it not occupying Ukraine, they are de-Nazifying it. Poutin (sic) spoke out against The Great Reset and called out those who seek to oppress as the Satan worshipers that they are. Russia is taking out bio labs and human (sic) trafficking. He’s fighting against the enslavement of humanity.”
“She’s calling Ukrainians Satan-worshippers? That’s insane,” Noszenko said.
An apology with a white flag as a photo was posted Saturday on the restaurant’s Facebook page:
“I have no words except I am terribly sorry. I’d like to first start with The one thing I love about the very difficult past two years is how all races have come together. Every Color of skin has joined hands together to stand for freedom. What they meant to divide turned into something very beautiful. Every sensitive human being understands how important freedom is. . Every sensitive person understands how harassment is not.
I’m sorry for the firestorm my post caused and know there is nothing I want more then every human in the world to have enough and feel loved every day of their lives. My thoughts have nothing to do with the people who work for me and my passion blinded me in my post and not considering all who could be affected. Leave them alone please. They don’t deserve this crap for something I did. You have them in tears over the phone calls you’re making and threats people are sending. They do not deserve to have their lives threatened or their families. This is not how I had expected that post to go and for that I’m sorry for my post. I hope you can take this apology for what it is and we can move on.”