Yellowknife (Nov 29/06) - Telephone messages threatening ethnic minorities in the city have left NWT Human Rights Commission staff worried for their safety.

On Nov. 17, a male caller targeted Asians, blacks and those of Middle Eastern descent in a racist diatribe and promises Canada will be returned to its "white heritage."

Calling the message "disturbing," Therese Boullard, commission director, believes it was the same caller who left similar messages in July of this year and in January, 2005.

The caller also makes reference to the white supremacist group Ku Klux Klan and in July's message made death threats to ethnic minorities and promised a "big explosion" in Yellowknife.

"We think it's the same person but we can't confirm it," Boullard told Yellowknifer. "Certainly the messages are similar and the language is always the same."

Boullard reported all three incidents to Yellowknife RCMP.

"It's important to report and to get it on the record and keep a paper trail in the event it escalates," said Boullard. "It's something we always take seriously and why we take measures internally to protect our staff."

Yellowknife RCMP Const. Roxanne Dreilich said it's a good practice to report such incidents to police.

"It helps us build a case and keeping a transcript or a recording of the statements made would be hugely beneficial in mounting a prosecution should the person be identified," she said.

Whether or not criminal charges could be laid is also unclear, said Dreilich.

"Ultimately it's going to depend on the content of the threats," she said. "I can't speak for the specific investigator but, in general, when complaints like this are received, it is looked at."

Dreilich noted the ability to track the call was difficult through the Northwestel network in the North.

As the commission has a toll-free number, Boullard is uncertain if the call was even made from the NWT. In the meantime, She said the phone messages only highlight the need to carry on with the commission's mandate.

"It speaks to the educational effort that we've been working on and the importance of continuing," she said.