City of Kingston releases statement on Sir John A Macdonald and the Indigenous Community
The following is a statement from the City of Kingston, regarding the legacy of Sir John A. Macdonald and engagement with the Indigenous community:
The City of Kingston wishes to inform the public of ongoing discussions and engagement with multiple community members and organizations, including members of the Indigenous community, regarding the legacy of Sir John A. Macdonald.
“This is an important community conversation. I can assure you that staff, councillors, and myself are listening to all of your comments and feedback and we’re committed to working with Kingstonians to find the best path forward,” said Mayor Paterson. “We know that community members are re-examining what that path forward looks like since we learned that 215 children have been found in unmarked graves near Kamloops, B.C. and all of us as Canadians must learn more and seek truth as a commitment to reconciliation.”
City Hall and Springer Market Square were illuminated orange nightly, concluding last night, in memory of the 215 Indigenous children whose remains were found at a former residential school near Kamloops, while a community memorial comprised of pairs of shoes and medicines was placed on the steps of Kingston City Hall to honour those children.
The recent discovery in Kamloops further highlights the importance of the work the City has undertaken for a number of years with First Peoples Group on the Engage for Change project as well as in support of the community consultations with Nations that have historical and enduring connections to this region.
IMMEDIATE AND LONGER-TERM ACTIONS
Through this work, a number of immediate and longer-term actions and strategies have been pursued in relation to representing local history in a more inclusive way, including:
- redevelopment of the book plaques beside the statue of Sir John A. Macdonald in City Park and Engine 1095 in Confederation Park, to tell a more complete and inclusive account of their histories in a Kingston context (see “Working Group” details, below);
- addition of a land recognition statement to the footer of the City of Kingston website (completed); and
- naming of The Third Crossing in a way that reflects and celebrates the stories and contributions of Indigenous communities in this region, both past and present (underway).
ABOUT THE WORKING GROUP
Although the City is actively involved in ongoing discussions via the History & Legacy of Sir John A. Macdonald Working Group, its role and involvement is as an active listener and participant. The working group – including both Indigenous and non-Indigenous community members, representing a diversity of perspectives – began meeting in February of 2021 to address issues specific to the history and legacy of Sir John A. Macdonald in Kingston and how it can be shared in relation to local landmarks managed by the City, as well as online.
As a member of the History & Legacy of Sir John A. Macdonald Working Group, the City and its representatives will continue to receive and hear feedback and concerns from the group members and the Indigenous community. Any future recommendations will come as the result of input from the working group and the community.
The working group also supports the City’s efforts in taking meaningful steps to address issues of systemic racism and the negative impacts of colonial policies and practices in the histories that are shared about Kingston and the lands on which it is located.
I would like to suggest that the City agree to relocate the statue of Sir John A. to the cemetery, where it rightfully belongs. Thank you.
Peace, Terrie Easter Sheen
Right or wrong Sir John has to go. He is the Father of Confederation; he fought for women’s rights and, like most people he probably did a lot of good. BUT he was instrumental in starting residential schools and he reportedly said “ we need to get the Indian out of the Indian “ or something like that. He has to go. History can’t go. It already happened. It’s part of this country. Put him in a museum- with plaques explaining the whole, honest story. We should stop building statues to honour anyone; stop naming streets, towns, buildings etc after people we think we know- because we seriously don’t. Why spend extra money putting plaques by a statue/ monument that will be vandalized? It has to go. Just do it.
I hope they keep his statue in a prominent place, with a sign to remind everyone of what a racist a he was, and the legacy of racism he and his generation left behind. The racism was not only directed at Indigenous people but anyone who did not look or sound like them. I would argue that many of our founding fathers fell into that mould. We should remember that.