The creator of the controversial John A. Macdonald sculpture, slated for removal from VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 City Hall on Saturday, is speaking up.
John Dann was commissioned to create the sculpture in 1981 by the John A. Macdonald Society of Vancouver. At the time of the commission, most Canadians didnB次元官网网址檛 know about residential schools, or the more sinister characteristics of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 first Prime Minister, but Dann said that simply plucking the statue away from City Hall isnB次元官网网址檛 the right way to deal with the dark sides of history.
B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 like the idea of it being done so quickly, it seems there was a quick reaction,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a very small step of reconciliationB次元官网网址� I think over the last 100 years or so weB次元官网网址檝e treated the natives horribly. WeB次元官网网址檝e stolen everything from them and we should somehow make amends and come together with them.B次元官网网址�
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The City announced they would remove the statue on Wednesday, and Dann found out about the removal from friends on Thursday. It prompted him to write a letter to Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps, where he wrote that B次元官网网址渋f my sculpture can engender a discussion about violence inflicted on Native Peoples, then frankly, I am honoured. I am not sure that removing the sculpture is the best way to accomplish thisB次元官网网址� I would have preffered to have been able to be there to exchange ideas with those who wish it removed.B次元官网网址�
Dann said that Macdonald was a complex character, with many flaws and many accomplishments, but at the end of the day his sculpture wasnB次元官网网址檛 meant to simply embody him.
The creation of a controversy:
B次元官网网址� john william dann (@johwilldann)
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 like people to realize itB次元官网网址檚 not John A. Macdonald. ItB次元官网网址檚 a piece of art, like a symphony surrounding John A. Macdonald, surrounding Canada, and surrounding how we got here,B次元官网网址� he said B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 offended by John weB次元官网网址檙e all offended, we donB次元官网网址檛 want to be like thatB次元官网网址� but I think the sculpture addresses a lot of issues; you see vulnerability. Do they think weB次元官网网址檙e picking off a scab? I donB次元官网网址檛 know.B次元官网网址�
LETTER:
Dann said he didnB次元官网网址檛 want to stand in the way of the removal, but didnB次元官网网址檛 think it should be hidden either. He likened it to a boy stealing a paint brush and hiding it behind his back, and denying that it was there.
B次元官网网址淐anada needs to address its past horrific treatment of natives, it should be forefront and itB次元官网网址檚 not. I know thereB次元官网网址檚 a great deal of racism still across the country,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚f we removed the sculpture, weB次元官网网址檙e not removing that attitude.B次元官网网址�
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