Drew Hayden Taylor is an Anishnawbe playwright and humorist.
It’s been said old soldiers and politicians never die, they just fade away. In some rare cases, they roar back into our lives and make a fundamental fuss over how we should view them. Sir John A. Macdonald, the first prime minister of Canada, died in 1891 and is once again in the news. A statue of the man standing in Toronto’s Queen’s Park was boxed up five years ago after vandals defaced him amidst protests about his revered place in Canadian history. It seems the politicians thought pink paint was not his colour. A recent decision was made by Ontario’s Legislature to unbox the man and let him once again stand proud and unfettered, proudly extolling the virtues of colonization. He came, he legislated, he conquered.
Sir JAM will be cleaned and mounted this summer … if you’ll pardon the expression.
Yes, the man did cobble together a country, amidst a sea of champagne at that notorious gathering of elite white politicians in PEI. I’ll drink to that. Coincidentally, he also kept the Americans at bay. For that, some might decry, Where is he today? He was the poster boy for functioning alcoholics. There’s also the creation of the Canadian national railroad and a few other things that make the man memorable, through rose-tinted glasses.
Drew Hayden TaylorSara Cornthwaite/Supplied
However, those kinds of actions seldom spark such vandalism or controversy. What does, Indigenous critics argue, was the fact that Macdonald was an architect of the country’s disgraceful residential school system. With the help of Egerton Ryerson, the state took Indigenous children from their families in an effort to assimilate them. There was also Macdonald’s development of a plot to starve out the Indigenous people of the Prairies so that Europeans could flood the area, putting up such culturally important landmarks as the world’s largest badminton racket (St. Albert, Alta.), the world’s largest curling rock (Arborg, Man.), the world’s second-largest fire hydrant (Elm Creek, Man.), and the world’s largest golf tee (Trochu, Alta.). The man knew what was important.
What’s that old joke? At least Hitler made the trains run on time?
Some say the past, warts and all, shouldn’t be hidden away. It should be up front, in your face. As many have said of George Orwell’s 1984, it was meant to be a warning, not a guidebook. Thus, some think removing statues of Macdonald and his buddy Ryerson are counterproductive. It does little to educate the population to their dubious deeds. Out of sight, out of mind maybe.
Doug Ford says he pushed to free Sir John A. Macdonald statue at Queen’s Park
This is the same principle being celebrated in America. Statues of Southern Confederate war heroes, as well as Christopher Columbus, don’t have long lifespans any more. It seems such a waste to destroy such works of art. Creations the sculptors spent weeks, even months labouring over. For that, as a playwright and novelist, I am sympathetic. For Canada’s sesquicentennial in 2017, I was asked to write a play about our first prime minister called Sir John A: Acts of a Gentrified Ojibway Rebellion, for the National Arts Centre. (A remount opens on June 18 at the Blyth Festival in Ontario.)
Many felt my script wasn’t mean enough to the man. Others felt I didn’t give him enough respect.
One interesting solution might be to create a park only for such controversial statues. Wall-to-wall discussions and arguments. Maybe even provide things to throw at the statues. Here’s another idea: maybe build this park somewhere along Dundas Street in Toronto. There’s been discussion about changing the name because the street is named after Henry Dundas, a prominent politician who played a role in delaying the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade. Birds of a feather … And hey, why not? I’ve seen museums dedicated to torture and other such politically incorrect issues.
History is written by the winners. And winners with guilty consciences can often take two steps back. Many, if not most, Indigenous people want to eliminate all such monuments to questionably monumental people. Tanya Talaga, on CBC Radio, even suggested Macdonald’s statue remain where it is, and how it is. Boxed up. Perhaps a grand metaphor for the reserves he placed Indigenous people on. The difference here is to add a plaque or sign to the statue detailing his contributions more accurately.
National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21 is fast approaching. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not when Nanabush comes down the sewer pipe and leaves little dreamcatchers hidden throughout the house. It’s a time to recognize and celebrate the traditions, cultures and contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis.
In the end, I’m not sure how much these statues matter. Despite all of Macdonald’s efforts, the Indigenous people of this land survived everything he threw at us. All things considered, a large chunk of sedentary metal can’t hurt us.