KQRS makes amends, ‘shock jocks’ lacking

Editorial Board
Bemidji Pioneer

Actions promised by Twin Cities radio station KQRS to recognize the station’s responsibility in totally inappropriate and disparaging comments made about American Indians is a positive step and goes a long ways in healing a deep wound caused by racism.

But a short, written apology by the two station on-air personalities which made the remarks is woefully inadequate and is a weak slap on the wrist, at best.

Tribal leaders, including Red Lake Tribal Chairman Floyd “Buck” Jourdain Jr., me[e]t with KQRS officials Monday after filing a formal protest for remarks made Sept. 18 on the KQRS Morning Show, hosted by Tom Barnard. He and Terri Traen exchanged banter about a state Health Department report showing Beltrami County with a rate of teen suicides twice the state average. During the banter, the two noted that the Red Lake Reservation was in Beltrami County, causing Traen to comment, “Maybe it’s genetic. Isn’t there a lot of incest up there?” Barnard responds, “Not that I know of,” and Traen says, “I think there is.”

Barnard furthered the conversation by noting that while some tribes are poor, others, notably the Mdewakanton Sioux Community’s Mystic Lake, are wealthy but do nothing to help the poorer tribes.

Both Barnard and Traen, who did not meet with the tribal leaders, issued written apologies but apparently that is all they will see. Traen admitted she had made “some ignorant and inappropriate comments” and that she had “come to learn that these are good people who deserve our respect and compassion.” Barnard notes he had said he wished an airplane would crash into Mystic Lake Casino, and “although I meant it as joke, there is nothing funny about planes crashing and people getting hurt, for this I apologize.” He also notes that he was mistaken about the Sioux Community, having made more than $100 million in charitable donations to tribes in Minnesota and North and South Dakota.

While the apology is needed, some sort of sanction should accompany it, up to and including dismissal. At least a couple of weeks without pay would make a personal point.

On the other hand, station manager Mark Kalman pledged a number of things, including both an on-air and written apology to the Red Lake Nation and Shakopee tribes, as well as Twin Cities urban communities, “issue invitations” to American Indian communities to educate the public about positive issues, recruit and hire American Indians in broadcasting and other company positions, run public service announcements promoting Indian youth suicide hotlines and suicide prevention programs, and invite Red Lake and Shakopee tribal representatives to appear on the Morning Show to enlighten the general public about American Indian issues.

The station’s response is reasonable, and commendable, in the wake of remarks over which the station had no control but has accepted responsibility. KQRS deserves a chance to fulfill what it has promised. But Barnard and Traen have a long ways to go to repair the damage they’ve caused.