John A. Macdonald Legacy Review

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• Teach and Build

  by ss, about 5 years ago

  My comments are two-fold, and I think they go hand-in-hand.

  Growing up as an Indigenous girl, I remember thinking I was ugly. None of the people on the television looked like me - most celebrities were fair skinned with blonde hair. I was taught this was what beautiful was. I remember thinking, "I am so grateful my skin is not dark," and that is such a terrible thing to think about. As I grew older I was able to understand the oppression and stereotypes that were forced upon myself, my family, my Indigenous community. I realized if we just changed... Continue reading

  My comments are two-fold, and I think they go hand-in-hand.

  Growing up as an Indigenous girl, I remember thinking I was ugly. None of the people on the television looked like me - most celebrities were fair skinned with blonde hair. I was taught this was what beautiful was. I remember thinking, "I am so grateful my skin is not dark," and that is such a terrible thing to think about. As I grew older I was able to understand the oppression and stereotypes that were forced upon myself, my family, my Indigenous community. I realized if we just changed our thinking and showed the world what we really believe - that Indigenous women are beautiful, that your skin tone is beautiful, that your round face and brown eyes are worthy of love - that the world would be a better place.

  Growing up and learning about John A MacDonald and Residential Schools, I was taught to be proud of John A MacDonald although I knew he helped to build and allow the system that hurt my grandmothers, my aunties, and further today, hurt my family as intergenerational trauma. I do acknowledge what John did for our country - both good, and bad. I do not condone cancel culture - I condone owning the past and teaching the future.

  There is so much I could say but I know you have more stories to hear. So, I will leave with this: Put John a MacDonald in a spot that does not seek to worship or necessarily praise, but to teach. Provide contextual information. And in his old place, in Victoria Park, put a beautiful and impactful Indigenous Person - so the future growing Indigenous Population can be proud of their history and know our community is proud, too. Work to rebuild a community that should have, from the onset, been truly proud of Indigenous accomplishments. Your future generations will thank you.

• Another chapter in the continuing reconcilliation shakedown

  by Sir John A, about 5 years ago
  The removal of the statue changes nothing but the usual grievance collectors will soldier on. Next stop is Dewdney Avenue.

  
  

  As a requirement of my employment I attended a seminar on residential schools & reconcilliation. An Elder told us that the Cree understanding of reconcilliation is as follows: one party offends or harms another. The offending party apologizes and makes amends then the offended party accepts the apology and the matter is concluded.

  
  

  The Federal government has apologized & over $3 billion has been paid out, Instead of moving on the usual suspects continue with their ongoing & seemingly never... Continue reading

  The removal of the statue changes nothing but the usual grievance collectors will soldier on. Next stop is Dewdney Avenue.

  
  

  As a requirement of my employment I attended a seminar on residential schools & reconcilliation. An Elder told us that the Cree understanding of reconcilliation is as follows: one party offends or harms another. The offending party apologizes and makes amends then the offended party accepts the apology and the matter is concluded.

  
  

  The Federal government has apologized & over $3 billion has been paid out, Instead of moving on the usual suspects continue with their ongoing & seemingly never ending shakedown which won't stop until someone with a spine (obviously not our City Council) has the courage to say "enough is enough.

  
  

  
  

• All should be heard ..

  by TGFC, about 5 years ago

  The Indian residential school system had its origins in laws enacted BEFORE Confederation in 1867, but it was primarily active from the passage of the Indian Act in 1876. In 1876, the Prime Minister was Alexander MacKenzie NOT J.A. MacDonald ! An AMENDMENT to the INDIAN ACT IN 1894, made attendance at day schools, industrial schools, or residential school COMPULSORY for First Nations children. Sir John A. McDonald DIED in 1891, years before this amendment !!

  It would be more accurate to vilify several generations of Canadian politicians from that era. However, at what generation should we stop ? This... Continue reading

  The Indian residential school system had its origins in laws enacted BEFORE Confederation in 1867, but it was primarily active from the passage of the Indian Act in 1876. In 1876, the Prime Minister was Alexander MacKenzie NOT J.A. MacDonald ! An AMENDMENT to the INDIAN ACT IN 1894, made attendance at day schools, industrial schools, or residential school COMPULSORY for First Nations children. Sir John A. McDonald DIED in 1891, years before this amendment !!

  It would be more accurate to vilify several generations of Canadian politicians from that era. However, at what generation should we stop ? This is really a path down the rabbit hole. We should always call out social injustices, but in the context of what this generation is doing to achieve social equality. Why this petty, senseless statue bashing ? You either bash all statues or none. Thank you !

• Reconciliation, Not Revenge

  by Lyle H, about 5 years ago

  There are few topics that make me angrier than attacks on the legacy of Sir John A. Macdonald. I find it preposterous that, in this great country of ours, we are not allowed to be proud of our country or celebrate its founder.
  
  But this debate does not need any more irrational emotion, from me or anyone else. It needs facts and reason, even though I know such things are out of fashion in the social media age.
  
  Let's start with what is easily the most important fact: Indigenous people have suffered profound injustices at the hands of Canadians. But... Continue reading

  There are few topics that make me angrier than attacks on the legacy of Sir John A. Macdonald. I find it preposterous that, in this great country of ours, we are not allowed to be proud of our country or celebrate its founder.
  
  But this debate does not need any more irrational emotion, from me or anyone else. It needs facts and reason, even though I know such things are out of fashion in the social media age.
  
  Let's start with what is easily the most important fact: Indigenous people have suffered profound injustices at the hands of Canadians. But that guilt is shared by our whole nation, across generations. It seems to me that there is something of a "whipping boy" mentality to the anti-John A campaign - sure, let's blame this one guy so the rest of us can feel less guilty. Conversely, on the Indigenous side, it is clear that what they require is systemic change, but that takes years, sometimes generations; symbols, such as statues, are easy targets that allow for quick victories, but not especially meaningful ones.
  
  Now, let's look at the facts, pro and con, about Sir John A and his time:
  
  - Contrary to the persistent rhetoric, Macdonald did not invent the residential school system. Residential schools had been in existence in the Canadian colonies since the 1830s. Further, under Macdonald's government, residential schools were voluntary.
  - It is further not true that Macdonald "caused starvation" amongst Indigenous people. They were self-sufficient hunters and their famine was caused by the decline of the buffalo population. Further, with regard to the Treaty-mandated food aid, Macdonald tripled the budget of the Department of Indian Affairs during his governments.
  - Macdonald was the first politician to propose (unsuccessfully) that Indigenous people be granted full citizenship and voting rights, at a time when they had neither. Would a hardened racist (as he is depicted by his critics) propose such a thing?
  
  On the other hand ...
  - Like all of his peers in Canadian politics at that time (and likely most people in Canadian society), Macdonald explicitly and undeniably viewed Indigenous people as heathen savages in need of civilizing and Christianizing. To that end, he was perfectly happy to perpetuate the residential school system that seemed best suited to those purposes - and so was every successive Canadian government for generations.
  - In the late 19th century, the Canadian government had zero experience in delivering social services so it is fair to say that the roll out of famine food aid was horrendously botched, by Macdonald and his successors. Further, Macdonald and every government at that time used the civil service middle management for patronage purposes, meaning that many of the Indian agents charged with distributing the food aid were at best incompetent and at worst corrupt. In a court of law, it would be difficult to convict Macdonald of a crime of malice, but one could easily make a case for a crime of negligence.
  
  History, as we see, is complicated. Humans are complicated and flawed. To depict Macdonald as some sort of evil criminal mastermind maliciously bent on wholesale genocide is, well, simplistic would be the kindest word I could give to it.
  
  Yes, yes, a million times yes, we should not err on the other side of simplicity by lionizing Macdonald without context. But we can do that without demonizing the man or ignoring his legitimate accomplishments.
  
  While there are many aspects of this debate, on both sides, that are frustrating and driven by irrational emotion, there are other aspects that give one hope for a compromise that is in the true spirit of reconciliation. Advocates on the right are saying the statue should stay in place but be surrounded by statues of Indigenous leaders, who have been too long ignored. Advocates for removing the statue have signaled that they would be content to have it relocated to the Legislature or Government House. Both of these seem like perfectly reasonable proposals with which everyone could be content.
  
  Perhaps the worst proposal that has been floated has been the notion of moving the statue to a museum, surrounded by plaques listing his alleged crimes. This would be a poor solution for two reasons. First, it is contrary to the original artistic intent of the artist, who conceived it as a piece of outdoor sculpture. Second, it sides too heavily on the side of those saying we should be ashamed of our nation's founder.
  
  I would therefore urge the City to consider any of the many excellent suggestions that have favoured preserving the statue's status as outdoor public artwork, with a balanced recounting of his legacy attached.

• cart before the horse

  by DeElina, about 5 years ago
  I question why city council removed the J.A.Macdonld statue from the park before asking for input from anyone except one segment of Regina's population. This change involves everyone, not just the FN community. MacDonald wasn't perfect but who among us is? He did a lot to build Canada so why are we concentrating on only one of his actions? The statue could have stayed in the park with an information placard listing all his accomplishments...good and bad. Changing names of buildings, parks,rec centers and streets or removing statues will do nothing to change history. It is important to learn from... Continue reading

  I question why city council removed the J.A.Macdonld statue from the park before asking for input from anyone except one segment of Regina's population. This change involves everyone, not just the FN community. MacDonald wasn't perfect but who among us is? He did a lot to build Canada so why are we concentrating on only one of his actions? The statue could have stayed in the park with an information placard listing all his accomplishments...good and bad. Changing names of buildings, parks,rec centers and streets or removing statues will do nothing to change history. It is important to learn from it. Everyone's ancestors are important including all the pioneers who molded a bare piece of prairie into the province and cities we have today. Everyone should be heard.

• Loss of a Statue is Not a Loss of History

  by ACN, about 5 years ago

  I had absolutely no feelings whatsoever about this statue until I heard the protests about it. I then did as much reading as I could about Mr. MacDonald and realized he was a pretty terrible person in general. I don’t see any issue with taking down a statue of a man who hurt so many people and putting it in a museum, especially since he was instrumental in oppressing not only Native Americans living here, but also Chinese immigrants who basically built our country through the railroads.
  
  

  To the people who are mad about it, I would ask to you... Continue reading

  I had absolutely no feelings whatsoever about this statue until I heard the protests about it. I then did as much reading as I could about Mr. MacDonald and realized he was a pretty terrible person in general. I don’t see any issue with taking down a statue of a man who hurt so many people and putting it in a museum, especially since he was instrumental in oppressing not only Native Americans living here, but also Chinese immigrants who basically built our country through the railroads.
  
  

  To the people who are mad about it, I would ask to you think about why exactly you’re mad. Removing a statue has absolutely no effect on your life, but means so much to other people who had to look at it and be reminded that their lives have historically been deemed to be worth nothing.

• An actual survey should be done ..

  by TGFC, about 5 years ago

  City of Regina should conduct an actual online survey about Victoria Park and the J.A. Macdonald statue. Instead, Regina city council makes a controversial decision and then runs around looking for input. Actually just looking for cover for an unpopular decision. An online survey would allow ALL interested voices to be heard, thereby respecting all residents equally. Thank you.

  
  

  City of Regina should conduct an actual online survey about Victoria Park and the J.A. Macdonald statue. Instead, Regina city council makes a controversial decision and then runs around looking for input. Actually just looking for cover for an unpopular decision. An online survey would allow ALL interested voices to be heard, thereby respecting all residents equally. Thank you.

  
  

• Alcoholic

  by b7michael, about 5 years ago

  JAM would drink vodka while he was in the House of Commons because it would look like water in his glass. This is documented. He was a alcoholic that designed and implemented a plan to use federal law and government resources to starve and displace the First Nations from the land to allow settlement by the settlers. That must be included as part of his history.

  
  

  https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/everyone-knows-john-a-macdonald-was-a-bit-of-a-drunk-but-its-largely-forgotten-how-hard-he-hit-the-bottle

  JAM would drink vodka while he was in the House of Commons because it would look like water in his glass. This is documented. He was a alcoholic that designed and implemented a plan to use federal law and government resources to starve and displace the First Nations from the land to allow settlement by the settlers. That must be included as part of his history.

  
  

  https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/everyone-knows-john-a-macdonald-was-a-bit-of-a-drunk-but-its-largely-forgotten-how-hard-he-hit-the-bottle

• A Statue as a Historical Teaching Tool

  by Shane Kleisinger, about 5 years ago

  Some folks are very concerned about history. Therefore, the statue should be placed under the charge of the First Nations University of Canada history department to be used as a teaching tool as they see fit.

  Some folks are very concerned about history. Therefore, the statue should be placed under the charge of the First Nations University of Canada history department to be used as a teaching tool as they see fit.

• A Step In the Right Direction

  by JustAResident, about 5 years ago

  To everyone complaining about the statue’s removal: did you even notice or care about this statue before? Or do you just suddenly care now? Most life-long residents of Regina I know, like myself, have never paid much attention to the statue. Taking it down harms no one, but leaving it up means we view him as a celebratory figure, which is deeply harmful to our Indigenous community. Taking it down is a step in the right direction to healing the racism and inequality in this country. If you really care about history, then you should care about teaching people the... Continue reading

  To everyone complaining about the statue’s removal: did you even notice or care about this statue before? Or do you just suddenly care now? Most life-long residents of Regina I know, like myself, have never paid much attention to the statue. Taking it down harms no one, but leaving it up means we view him as a celebratory figure, which is deeply harmful to our Indigenous community. Taking it down is a step in the right direction to healing the racism and inequality in this country. If you really care about history, then you should care about teaching people the full history—and that includes racism and genocide perpetrated by this man. He’ll always be in our history books; he doesn’t need to be in our parks.