And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
Date: Tue, 22 Jun 1999 08:24:14 -0400
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
From: Lynne Moss-Sharman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Halifax: "Natives killed more than we did" - Mayor
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Tuesday, June 22, 1999 Mayor offends Mi'kmaqs Fitzgerald white people's
mayor, says Assembly of N.S. Chiefs head
By BRIAN FLINN -- The Halifax Daily News
Edward Cornwallis made a surprise appearance yesterday at Halifax's 250th
birthday party. And while Mayor Walter Fitzgerald's appearance was entirely
expected, his comments on history came as a shock to metro Mi'kmaqs. Actor
Ed Kennedy, dressed in a shiny 18th-century costume, stood in as the city's
founder but was never formally introduced to the crowd gathered at Grand
Parade. "I am Cornwallis," Kennedy announced to reporters after the
ceremony. Asked why he wasn't named during the ceremony, he said, "They're
afraid to say anything." The city's birthday committee cancelled plans to
put a Cornwallis look-alike in the re-enactment of English settlers landing
downtown Saturday to avoid Mi'kmaq protests.
Natives remember the former governor for paying for the scalps of men,
women and children during a war against Mi'kmaqs. Fitzgerald, who
apologized earlier this year for past atrocities, said yesterday it was
fitting to represent Cornwallis on the anniversary of the date he arrived
in Halifax Harbour. "He founded the city - why was he controversial?" the
mayor said. "The Mi'kmaqs killed a lot of white people too. They probably
killed a lot more than we did."
Fitzgerald said Cornwallis's scalping proclamation was "history ... old
stuff," and he preferred to concentrate on cutting cake for passers-by. But
during his speech he was careful to mention Mi'kmaqs and Acadians who lived
in the Halifax area before the British arrived. Millbrook chief Lawrence
Paul said he is disappointed Cornwallis was honoured in any way, and feels
the mayor reneged on a promise to keep him out of all festivities.
"If we knew they were going to make any reference to Governor Cornwallis we
would have mounted a protest," said Paul, the chairman of the Assembly of
Nova Scotia Chiefs. Paul said Fitzgerald's comments were insensitive to the
4,000 Mi'kmaqs who live in Halifax Regional Municipality. "It seems he's
the mayor of the white people," he said. Annapolis Royal Mayor Phil Roberts
brought greetings from the community that was the province's first capital,
and noted both the Mi'kmaq genocide and the "ethnic cleansing" British
authorities carried out against Acadians in the decade after Halifax was
established. "For many Nova Scotians, it's not a time for celebration but
sober reflection," he said. Roberts called on all residents, from natives
to recently arrived Kosovar refugees, to "join together to make this the
best place in the world to live."
Yesterday's event, featuring a string orchestra from St. Patrick's High
School and a choir from Holland Road Elementary school, was low-key
compared with the party planned for this weekend. More than 200 people
dressed as settlers plan to sail into Halifax Harbour aboard tall ships and
land downtown before hiking up the hill to the Commons. The weekend party
will include a mock battle and a beer tent beside their encampment.
Halifax founder ignored at city's birthday party
Brian Flinn The Halifax Daily News June 22, 1999
HALIFAX - Edward Cornwallis made a surprise but understated appearance
yesterday at Halifax's 250th birthday party. Actor Ed Kennedy, dressed in a
shiny 18th-century suit, stood in as the city's founder but was never
introduced to the crowd gathered at Grand Parade.
"I am Cornwallis," Mr. Kennedy told reporters after the ceremony. Asked why
he was not named during the ceremony, he said, "they're afraid to say
anything."
The city's birthday committee cancelled plans to put a Cornwallis lookalike
at the re-enactment of English settlers landing downtown to avoid Mi'kmaq
protests. Natives remember the former governor for paying for the scalps of
men, women and children during a war against Mi'kmaqs. Walter Fitzgerald,
the city's mayor who apologized earlier this year for past atrocities, said
it was fitting to represent Cornwallis on the anniversary of the date he
arrived in Halifax Harbour.
"He founded the city -- why was he controversial?" he asked. "The Mi'kmaq
tribe killed a lot of white people too. They probably killed a lot more
than we did."
Mr. Fitzgerald said the scalping proclamation was "history" and preferred
to concentrate on cutting cake for passersby. But during his speech he was
careful to mention Mi'kmaqs and Acadians who lived in the Halifax area
before the British arrived.
Millbrook chief Lawrence Paul said he is disappointed Cornwallis was
honoured in any way, and feels the mayor reneged on a promise to keep him
out of all festivities. "If we knew they were going to make any reference
to Governor Cornwallis we would mounted a protest," said Mr. Paul, the
chairman of the Assembly of Nova Scotia Chiefs. Mr. Paul said Mr.
Fitzgerald's comments were insensitive to Halifax's 4,000 Mi'kmaqs. "It
seems he's the mayor of the white people," he said.
Phil Roberts, mayor of Annapolis Royal, brought greetings from the
community that was the province's first capital, and noted both the Mi'kmaq
genocide and the "ethnic cleansing" British authorities carried out against
Acadians in the decade after Halifax was established. "For many Nova
Scotians, it's not a time for celebration but sober reflection," he said,
calling on all residents, from natives to recently-arrived Kosovar refugees
to "join together to make this the best place in the world to live."
Yesterday's event was low-key compared to the party planned for this weekend.
"Let Us Consider The Human Brain As
A Very Complex Photographic Plate"
1957 G.H. Estabrooks
www.angelfire.com/mn/mcap/bc.html
FOR K A R E N #01182
who died fighting 4/23/99
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
www.aches-mc.org
807-622-5407
Reprinted under the fair use http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html
doctrine of international copyright law.
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Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit)
Unenh onhwa' Awayaton
http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/
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