John A. Macdonald Legacy Review

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• Education needed, not forgettinging MacDonald

  by Bob R, over 5 years ago

  Rather than removing the statue so that we can forget about Macdonald, a better solution would be to provide information regarding the good and the bad he did.

  MacDonald represented the racist views of his times, and he was not particularly bad. When his government was providing assistance to set up farming on reserves, the Saskatchewan Herald said assistance to help natives take up farming was “conducive to the destruction of self-reliance, and calculated to give them a false impression of what the Government owed them.” A Liberal MP said government aid went against “natural law” which said Indians were... Continue reading

  Rather than removing the statue so that we can forget about Macdonald, a better solution would be to provide information regarding the good and the bad he did.

  MacDonald represented the racist views of his times, and he was not particularly bad. When his government was providing assistance to set up farming on reserves, the Saskatchewan Herald said assistance to help natives take up farming was “conducive to the destruction of self-reliance, and calculated to give them a false impression of what the Government owed them.” A Liberal MP said government aid went against “natural law” which said Indians were to go extinct. The Liberal Party objected to MacDonald’s policies as they acted “not to secure a survival of the fittest, but a survival of everybody, to put the industrious and enterprising upon an equality with the careless and idle.” MacDonald replied that “we cannot allow them to starve and we cannot make them white men...” ““The whole thing is an experiment.”

  These racist views caused a lot of damage, but they were ones that were generally held, and not restricted to Macdonald. As Doug Cuthand recently wrote, what is needed is not necessarily the removal of these figures, but that more information be provided about the racist views that were common at the time and the damage these views caused, so that “the existing statues will be revealed for their racism and misplaced hero worship.”

• Is John A McDonald just another bogus reconciliation scam?

  by Orville, over 5 years ago
  Where is the common sense in this “hiding the statue”? When Andrew Scheer spoke that day, there were 12 protestors out throwing “F” bombs at him being very offensive. The other 235,000 Regina people were at work or being productive in some other manner.

  
  

  where were the ladies who wrote in the United Church Observer saying”thank goodness for residential schools where we were “warm, clean and well fed and schooled”, wonderful compared to where we had been.

  Afriend of mine’s father was an educator years back said the provincial government was advised by people from the U.S. not to build... Continue reading

  Where is the common sense in this “hiding the statue”? When Andrew Scheer spoke that day, there were 12 protestors out throwing “F” bombs at him being very offensive. The other 235,000 Regina people were at work or being productive in some other manner.

  
  

  where were the ladies who wrote in the United Church Observer saying”thank goodness for residential schools where we were “warm, clean and well fed and schooled”, wonderful compared to where we had been.

  Afriend of mine’s father was an educator years back said the provincial government was advised by people from the U.S. not to build schools on the reserve because they would not be adequate or feasible, but to utilize residential schools so that the children could be treated humanely with their basic needs met to have a chance in society.

  The recently deceased NHL hockey player who became a star “despite his trying times at the Duck Lake residential school - he would not have had a chance at a hockey career if not for the D.L. R. School - but let us once again put the tired reconciliation spin on it.

  McDonald did more in his lifetime for Canada than all of the “reconciliation” bandits will ever do - but he does not fit the liberal agenda - get over this bleeding heart knee-jerk BS - I am just a sample of your average citizen who is tired of this redundant liberal nonsense.

• Madonald's Policies Have Resulted in Great Harm for All of Canada

  by Bill, over 5 years ago

  Canadians are becoming increasingly aware of Macdonald's crimes against Indigenous peoples and of the ongoing suffering those crimes have caused, which is reason enough to remove his statue from public places.

  But it needs to be said that his legacy has also shamed and diminished Canada as a whole. We are seen by the rest of the world as a country that is guilty of cultural genocide and attempted physical genocide.

  Also, we are are infected as a nation by systemic racism, ongoing division, and the loss of the important gifts that Indigenous people would have shared with the rest... Continue reading

  Canadians are becoming increasingly aware of Macdonald's crimes against Indigenous peoples and of the ongoing suffering those crimes have caused, which is reason enough to remove his statue from public places.

  But it needs to be said that his legacy has also shamed and diminished Canada as a whole. We are seen by the rest of the world as a country that is guilty of cultural genocide and attempted physical genocide.

  Also, we are are infected as a nation by systemic racism, ongoing division, and the loss of the important gifts that Indigenous people would have shared with the rest of us had they been allowed to do so.

  In short, the whole country bears the shame and the harm of Macdonald's legacy.

• Keep Sir John A MacDonald

  by Ken, over 5 years ago
  He is a big part of our history.

  The activists like to have their photo's taken with him.

  Not all bad things happened.

  Around 150 thousand childern came through the system. And I have to think most have a better life for that. If they chose to do so.

  We have talked to a lady that worked at one of the schools, and she said they were fed and clothed very well.

  He is a big part of our history.

  The activists like to have their photo's taken with him.

  Not all bad things happened.

  Around 150 thousand childern came through the system. And I have to think most have a better life for that. If they chose to do so.

  We have talked to a lady that worked at one of the schools, and she said they were fed and clothed very well.

• Mixed Feelings

  by donnalit, over 5 years ago
  As a non indigenous social studies teacher, I have spent the last several decades teaching and learning about Canada's history. Since the TRC I have become a lot more knowledgeable about all the issues, and I am glad for that. I consider myself an ally of indigenous people.

  
  

  I have learned the negative consequences for indigenous people of many of Macdonald's policies, and of decisions he made. Even his famous National Policy, about which I have head many, many student essays, was a disaster for indigenous people. There is no way of sugar coating his efforts to get indigenous people... Continue reading

  As a non indigenous social studies teacher, I have spent the last several decades teaching and learning about Canada's history. Since the TRC I have become a lot more knowledgeable about all the issues, and I am glad for that. I consider myself an ally of indigenous people.

  
  

  I have learned the negative consequences for indigenous people of many of Macdonald's policies, and of decisions he made. Even his famous National Policy, about which I have head many, many student essays, was a disaster for indigenous people. There is no way of sugar coating his efforts to get indigenous people onto reservations by withholding food. There is no way of explaining away his creation of residential schools. Justice Murray Sinclair's speech about reconciliation says it best. To paraphrase - generations of education led to the problem; it will take gnerations of education to get rid of it.

  
  

  Then there is the other side. As someone else mentioned, without Macdonald's vision we would be a couple more big northern states in the USA. I am SO grateful that is not the case. I am a very proud Canadian and I still have JAM to thank for that. There is a term that describes the issue - presentism, the judging of history by today's standards. That brings up the point that Macdonald died in 1891. None of the succeeding PMs did anything to change any of those policies for many decades, even as times were changing; he is not the only one associated with ressidential schools and other prejudicial policies. The churches, as well as the government, made these schools hell for the indigenous people. There are a lot of people to share that blame.

  As a proud Canadian, if the statue has to be moved, which I do not agree with, then put it in the Royal Saskatchewan Museum with a detailed display showing both sides of the issue. Do not put it in storage because it will be forgotten there. Leave it where it is until a place is built for it.

  
  

  It concerns me that petitions can sway city council to this extent. Consultation with the public should have been done PRIOR to the vote.

• Wither History?

  by OnceProudReginan, over 5 years ago

  It is often said that history is written by the victors. There can be no more certain confirmation that it is but perception. It is not fact, nor will it ever be. Events happen but their interpretation shifts with time, temperament, personality, and politics. We were once certain that Macdonald was worthy of laud to the degree that we erected a statue. Now, that no longer seems appropriate.

  In the USA, their first president was a slaveowner and historians have fought over the paradox of a man who led a war of liberation would enslave and subject his "property" to... Continue reading

  It is often said that history is written by the victors. There can be no more certain confirmation that it is but perception. It is not fact, nor will it ever be. Events happen but their interpretation shifts with time, temperament, personality, and politics. We were once certain that Macdonald was worthy of laud to the degree that we erected a statue. Now, that no longer seems appropriate.

  In the USA, their first president was a slaveowner and historians have fought over the paradox of a man who led a war of liberation would enslave and subject his "property" to atrocity until his near-deathbed emancipation of his slaves. That country accepts that paradox -- with the certain knowledge to judge actions of the past with today's enlightened morality is folly. I wonder why it seems impossible for us to do the same.

  I have paused at the Macdonald statues many times in my visits to downtown Regina. I have reflected that I live in a country that quite likely would not have existed but for his will and leadership. It is a country where diverse opinions and interpretations are not only tolerated but celebrated. Many of those visits have been on my way to pay homage to the sacrifice of veterans commemorated by the Cenotaph and today I cannot help but wonder how long it will be before some faction decides that one or more of our wars was immoral -- and demands that that structure be removed.

  History is written by the victors. But we must be vigilant in whom we let win. Keep the statue in the park named for the monarch he served with the monument to those who fought to preserve it at his back. History itself is reconciliation and reconciliation, at its core, in built on paradox.

• David Garneau

  by David Garneau, over 5 years ago

  I moved to Regina 21 years ago from Alberta. In order to get a feel for the place, I walked. Beautiful place. But I was stunned to see a statue of John A Macdonald statue in the middle of the city. As a Métis man, I was puzzled why citizens here, in a city of few statues, chose to erect this one, to celebrate someone who had never even visited the place. Knowing that Louis Riel was hung in Regina, and played such a dramatic role in helping to shape this region, I was surprised to see Macdonald rather than... Continue reading

  I moved to Regina 21 years ago from Alberta. In order to get a feel for the place, I walked. Beautiful place. But I was stunned to see a statue of John A Macdonald statue in the middle of the city. As a Métis man, I was puzzled why citizens here, in a city of few statues, chose to erect this one, to celebrate someone who had never even visited the place. Knowing that Louis Riel was hung in Regina, and played such a dramatic role in helping to shape this region, I was surprised to see Macdonald rather than Riel memorialized. John A Macdonald refused to commute Riel’s death sentence for treason, he instituted the Chinese Head tax; was an architect of the reserve system, the Indian Residential School system, and of other anti-Indigenous strategies ranging from the aggressively assimilationist to the genocidal. There are no statues of John A in all of western Canada. There was one in Victoria, at the entrance to the City Hall, but the City removed it as an act of reconciliation. We need to do the same.

  The Regina John A statue is not an artifact of the 19^th century. It was not installed soon after Macdonald’s death, but in 1967, during the rise of the Indigenous rights movement. The object is not history. Not a text, story, or other literal record. It is an effigy. It is also a deliberate and perpetual provocation of Indigenous people. The placement of this statue is not a neutral act. It was designed to remind Indigenous people what happens to those who resist colonization.

  I avoid the Park. In the first years I was here, I only visited once a year, Nov 16, the day Riel was executed. I left small nooses at the foot of the metal man. One year I left a full sized noose. It was a private response. Nearly seven years ago, I thought about doing something more public. For the 2014 anniversary of Riel’s killing, I worked with Dunlop curator, Blair Fornwald, and performed Dear John, Louis David Riel. Dressed as the spirit of Riel, I petitioned Macdonald in pantomime, and eventually turned my back on him and went into ceremony. Jan 10, 2015, with curator Erin Sutherland, I remounted the performance in John A’s hometown of Kingston; and as a counter monument and in reaction to Canada 150, and the Riel opera, I restaged the performance in Ottawa. Three years ago, wearing a golden Riel suit, I did a related performance in Regina called “Dear John, It’s not me, it’s you.” This time: Riel: speaks and tries to convince John A to retire with him to the nearby Museum.

  The statue was not erected by Indigenous people. It is was made by and for settlers to honour one of their ancestor. It is up to settlers to decide what to do with it. In its place, I suggest a conciliation medicine garden tended by Indigenous and non-Indigenous folks, a living memorial to Indian Residential School survivors and perpetual conciliation.

  David Garneau

• Suitable Place for Macdonald Statue

  by Hoping for Reconciliation, over 5 years ago
  As already suggested on the grounds of the Legislature might be an appropriate place for this statue. Erasing / hiding parts of our history will not help us learn from mistakes made. We need to be able to move forward as a community and find compromises that respect all members of Regina (& our country, for that matter).

  As already suggested on the grounds of the Legislature might be an appropriate place for this statue. Erasing / hiding parts of our history will not help us learn from mistakes made. We need to be able to move forward as a community and find compromises that respect all members of Regina (& our country, for that matter).

• We can’t move forward without understanding the past

  by Vista131, over 5 years ago
  We are all flawed individuals, and the wise among us no doubt wish they had made some choices in life differently. None of us are the people our dog thinks we are (we wish we were), and if our lives were put under the microscope, most would suffer deep embarrassment.

  The past can’t be changed. We can only attempt to understand it as best we can, given that we live in a very different cultural context.

  SJAM was a hugely important figure in Canadian political history, and it is ridiculous to think of placing any statues of him or most... Continue reading

  We are all flawed individuals, and the wise among us no doubt wish they had made some choices in life differently. None of us are the people our dog thinks we are (we wish we were), and if our lives were put under the microscope, most would suffer deep embarrassment.

  The past can’t be changed. We can only attempt to understand it as best we can, given that we live in a very different cultural context.

  SJAM was a hugely important figure in Canadian political history, and it is ridiculous to think of placing any statues of him or most other historical figures in remote storage facilities in some sort of attempt to pretend that what happened didn’t happen. Unfortunately, as in most cases, the true story is long and very complicated and can’t possibly be condensed into a few short paragraphs on two side-by-side brass plaques, one pro and one con. If we truly want to honour all who played a part in our history, then we need to undertake the hard work of properly teaching our history to our children. (The textbooks and curriculum for this have yet to be written). If that sounds difficult, it is. There’s no easy way or quick fix to truly deal with issues like this. We will all be better for taking this on.

  
  

• Dictated to by 3% of the population

  by Winston1f, over 5 years ago

  I, for one, consider the FIRST PRIME MINISTER'S pushing for the construction of the railway to British Columbia to be only one of his many accomplishments. He was a uniting figure for a country that very nearly became an American state. Any statue of him should be honoured and NOT stuffed into storage so someone will "feel safe to go downtown." I suggest it be moved to the Legislative grounds, near the stature of Queen Elizabeth II.

  
  

  
  

  I, for one, consider the FIRST PRIME MINISTER'S pushing for the construction of the railway to British Columbia to be only one of his many accomplishments. He was a uniting figure for a country that very nearly became an American state. Any statue of him should be honoured and NOT stuffed into storage so someone will "feel safe to go downtown." I suggest it be moved to the Legislative grounds, near the stature of Queen Elizabeth II.