The recent destruction of the John A statue in Montreal was subject of call-in show on CBC radio on Tuesday.
These observations bear repeating, i figure.
Metis associate professor Dwayne Donald was even-handed on the vandalism, saying it might do some good if it evoked further discussion on the government's racist policies past and present. The moderator admitted that the show on the subject happened in part due to the act of vandalism.
It was noted that anti-racist activists have been asking for the statue's removal for months.and that it has been spray-painted on a monthly basis.
Dwayne said the destructive act made clear that our story of the country's origins is not sufficient, not complete. It tells only of glorious advance of settlement, the CPR, of John A.'s National Policy, and not of the tragedy that ensued for the Native population. Clearly we need to have wider story that encompasses the whole story, he said.
He pointed out how Kenney says he is opposed to the NDP's ideological stance but then with no basis other than ideology is proposing that the bits and pieces of John A. be brought west where they can be put together again. (During John A.'s time few Conservative politicians were elected in Alberta. most votes in the old Northwest went to the French-friendly, Metis-friendly, immigrant-friendly , worker-friendly, free-trade Liberals. Laurier himself was elected in a district that took in what would later be part of of Alberta, John A. was never elected out West. His party held few seats out west during his time as PM. Wilbert McIntyre, namesake of McIntyre Park in Strathcona AKA Gazebo Park, was Liberal, succeeding a Liberal MP, and followed by a Liberal MP.
During the early years of our country, the CPR was cursed from one end of the Prairies to the other, while its fatcat shareholders in Ontario reaped its profits.
Another caller remarked how ironic that Kenny is making big thing out of john A while at same time in Alberta there is separatist movement to remove Alberta from Canada. Perhaps if statue is erected here, it will be destroyed by western separatists...
Another said that John A. showed his dark side when he hanged Riel and that there should be statues of John A. across the country each hanging by the neck itself.
Author James Tachuk (sp?) rebutted one caller's statement that Canada is safe, saying that the hundreds of lost and missing Native women did not find it that way.
There is still a great deal to do. and the government is not moving fast enough to ensure safety for all.
Thanks for reading.
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