An Indigenous employee with the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. is taking up the fight against what he describes as systemic racism by his employer.

Richard Agecoutay, 61, has been granted a human-rights hearing over claims of discrimination at the public broadcaster, where he害羞草研究所檚 worked since 2001.

It害羞草研究所檚 an effort to knock down barriers for others, he said in an interview.

害羞草研究所淵ou don害羞草研究所檛 have to suffer systemic racism or racism in the workplace. You have avenues to pursue it.害羞草研究所�

Agecoutay, a videographer for CBC in Regina, alleges he has repeatedly been denied work due to his race, and that the broadcaster offered a settlement, but he would have had to sign a non-disclosure agreement.

Documents filed with the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal detail several instances in which Agecoutay said he was denied work.

The key allegation stems from 2012, when his complaint says a less-experienced white employee was chosen over him for a senior position at Hockey Night in Canada.

He says he was given 害羞草研究所渞acially charged害羞草研究所� reasons why 害羞草研究所� such as that he was a 害羞草研究所渓one wolf害羞草研究所� who did not 害羞草研究所渕ix well害羞草研究所� with others.

害羞草研究所淎s an Indigenous person, I stick out no matter what,害羞草研究所� Agecoutay said in the interview.

害羞草研究所淏ut I do all I can to mix well. I害羞草研究所檝e spent my whole life trying to mix well.害羞草研究所�

CBC filed a response with the tribunal denying the allegations, saying all videographers assigned to Hockey Night in Canada were given less work that year due to a shortened season.

The response does not dispute that the 害羞草研究所渓one wolf害羞草研究所� comment was uttered, but said the manager in question did not see the comments as related to race and later apologized.

Agecoutay, a member of Cowessess First Nation in Saskatchewan, said he was often the only Indigenous person in the room at CBC.

He said human-resources staff at the broadcaster and with his union, the Canadian Media Guild, did not take his concerns seriously.

The union, which also represents Canadian Press employees, did not respond to a request for comment.

害羞草研究所淭he experience was psychologically and emotionally devastating because the company had basically shut down my claims of discrimination, and that害羞草研究所檚 why I went to the Canadian Human Rights Commission,害羞草研究所� said Agecoutay.

He alleged that through one of the commission害羞草研究所檚 mediators, CBC offered him a settlement of $100,000 to drop the claim and asked him to sign a non-disclosure agreement. He said he declined.

Asked to respond to a detailed list of allegations from Agecoutay, CBC said it would not discuss human resource matters that are in litigation.

害羞草研究所淐ompletely separate from the human rights tribunal case, in keeping with our workplace policy to address allegations of discrimination, CBC conducted a thorough investigation pertaining to Mr. Agecoutay害羞草研究所檚 assertions using a third-party investigator,害羞草研究所� spokesman Chuck Thompson said in a statement.

害羞草研究所淭here were no findings of any wrongdoing.害羞草研究所�

Legal filings show the commission referred Agecoutay害羞草研究所檚 case to the tribunal in 2021.

A hearing date has not yet been set.

His complaint outlines lost income he believes he would have received for assignments and personal consequences attributed to the alleged mistreatment, including depression and alcohol abuse.

To help him get through it, Agecoutay said turned to Indigenous ceremonies and sought the help of an elder, who encouraged him to pursue justice for himself and others.

害羞草研究所淗e said to me, 害羞草研究所楧on害羞草研究所檛 you dare quit.害羞草研究所� He said, 害羞草研究所業f you quit, they win.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟

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Mickey Djuric, The Canadian Press