The Solutions
.jpg)
Having seen multiple viewpoints to Macdonald's statues, the solution now has to fulfill a responsibility of acknowledging the wrongs that he committed, but also not villify one man to take the fall for something that was bigger than just him.
Today, our group proposes that to find a solution to this predicament, one path would be to educate people on the entire truth of Macdonald’s time in government. This means acknowledging his hand in the creation of Canada, but also bringing attention to the horrors he inflicted on the Indigenous peoples. While it could be favourable to take all the commemorative statues away, as his most important actions have eclipsed any positive point you could say about him, to sweep the past under the rug and disregard these historical events is a disservice to the people he has oppressed. Through reminder of the nuances that lead up to this man establishing a great country at the expense of those without a voice, we ensure that history will not be repeated in the future.
A secondary plaque should be added to each and every statue which gives detail on how the railroad tore apart Indigenous land, Macdonald's planned starvation that forced people onto reserves and caused thousands of deaths, and the creation of residential schools that had rampant abuse and helped aid in the erasure of Indigenous culture and language. It can thus show that there have been deplorable acts of racism and hatred in Canada’s history, and it should be recognized. An example of this already being done to a Macdonald statue is in Victoria Park and organized by the city of Regina. Another instance is the papers that were posted temporarily by protesters at the statue in Baden, in an effort to show all aspects of Macdonald which state some of his racially charged quotes on the Indigenous peoples and residential schools.
Additionally, an initiative should be taken to create a series across Canada of commemorative statues, works of art, and installations that signify Indigenous culture and Indigenous people of importance, as to ensure that the culture and history that Macdonald tried to eradicate is never forgotten, and instead celebrate it. An example of this already in action is The Landscape of Nations, residing in Queenston Park Niagara (click here to view) that features a living memorial to the Six Nations and allies that helped turn the tides in the war of 1812. While this memorial specifically is related to a historical event that happened on the grounds, it recognizes the immense help and sacrifice of the Indigenous people that prior to this was not widely known or taught about. There is additionally the Indigenous Peoples Sculpture Program, issued by the House of Commons to encourage the celebration of Indigenous artists and Canadian culture, more info and viewing of the art can be found here.
This kind of change to actively educate and celebrate Indigenous people and culture needs to be spread across Canada, and can take form in commemorative statues to historical figures, showcasing Indigenous art, aspects of culture, or even recognizing what land our modern day cities reside on (can be discovered using sites such as the Native Land Project). Although we cannot change what has happened in Canada’s past, it is our responsibility to change outdated beliefs now, for the betterment of the future.