Protest held in Kentville against continued use of ‘Cornwallis’ name
A group that believes the continued use of the Cornwallis name in association with Annapolis Valley landmarks doesn’t reflect our compassion and values as a society in the year 2015 took to the streets on Feb. 14 in protest.
A small but determined group of demonstrators were showing their objections to the continued use of the name ‘Cornwallis’ in Kings County.
Among them were several children who felt compelled to draw attention to the situation after learning the history of Lt.-Gen. Edward Cornwallis (1713-1776). The first Governor of Nova Scotia had once placed a bounty on the heads of Mi’kmaq men, women and children, paying for scalps.
Protest co-organizer Richelle Brown Redden of Kentville said the idea for the demonstration began after she couldn’t explain to her 10-year-old son Caiden why the Cornwallis name hasn’t been removed from so many landmarks in spite of Cornwallis’s treatment of native people.
“He shouldn’t be remembered for killing First Nations and putting bounties on them,” Caiden Redden said.
He carried a sign that read, “Wash Cornwallis Away,” while other children carried signs that read, “Compassion not Cornwallis,” “Time for a Change” and “Change Your Heart,” while the adults carried signs simply stating, “Rename.”
Brown Redden brought up the continued use of the Cornwallis name in her addictions community outreach class at the Nova Scotia Community College Kingstec Campus. She and fellow student Lindsay Burgess thought a peaceful protest might be a good way to bring attention to the matter. Others from Hants County also got involved.
When Brown Redden was asked what she thinks about children getting involved in the demonstration, she called it “fabulous.”
“I think it shows that we need to believe in our youth. It shows hope for the future,” she said.
Brown Redden said that when we spend so much time teaching anti-bullying and diversity, “it seems like it’s time to let go of the status quo and rename the Cornwallis River and the landmarks associated with honouring Edward Cornwallis.”
Citing the work of native leader Chief Daniel Paul and the fact that members of the Annapolis Valley First Nation have asked for the name ‘Cornwallis’ to be removed in the past, Brown Redden thought the demonstration would be a way to let native people know “that we’re listening and we care.”
She said historical oppression could still impact people today.
“We feel that his (Cornwallis’s) place is in the history books and it’s not in line with how we feel today to honour this man.” Brown Redden said. “We want to do what we can to listen to our First Nations.”
To watch a video from the protest, visit www.kingscountynews.ca.
Weblinks:
To sign an online petition, visit www.change.org/p/rename-cornwallis-landmarks. To watch a public engagement project by Rania Hilani regarding Edward Cornwallis, visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZSGSe1sTxA. Visit Daniel Paul’s website at www.danielnpaul.com/GovernorEdwardCornwallis.html.