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Anishinaabe Scout Indigenous Monument

This is the Anishinaabe Scout Status that can be currently found in Major Hill Park in Ottawa, Ontario.

Lead

The Scout Indigenous Status can be viewed in the corner of Major Hill Park in Ottawa, Ontario. [[1]] It has been given the name Gichi Zibi Omaani Winini Anishnaabe, [2] which is a traditional name for the Algonquin people.

History

The Scout Indigenous Status could be found at the feet of Samuel de Champlain monument at the Nepean point. [[3]]. However, in the 1990's the Assembly of First Nation demanded that it be moved because of controversial opinions.

Samuel de Champlain is commonly known as the "Father of New France" he founded New France and Quebec City in 1608. He is the first individual to construct an accurate map of North America. He was the first to explore the Great Lakes with the guidance of the First Nations of Canada such as the Métis people, Algonquin and Huron Wendat. He is one of the first explorers that formed friendships with the First Nations by exchanging knowledge and trading fur. Additionally, Champlain provided support to the Wendat and Algonquin during their war against the Iroquois.

The Samuel de Champlain monument was constructed by Hamilton MacCarthy in 1918. Hamilton MacCarthy was one of the earliest sculptures in Canada. He was known for his historical monuments across Canada. Some of his work includes Ottawa mayor Samuel Bingham in Notre-Dame Cemetery in Vanier. [[4]]

The statue was constructed with Samuel de Champlain at the center standing tall, with the Scout at his knees. The Scout was supposed to be in a canoe kneeling beside Samuel de Champlain, however, the statue lacked the funds in 1924. [5] This led the Scout being at the feet of Samuel De Champlain. The monument was supposed to honor the Indigenous people that have helped Champlain navigate the waters and the land of North America. Since its constructing in 1918 there have been multiple controversial opinions regarding it.

Point of View Canadian government

The composition of the monument of Samuel de Champlain and the Scout were supposed to represent how Indigenous people guided the explorer through the risky environmental obstacles of Canada. He would not have been able to cover as much extensive ground without their environmental knowledge. Since the separation of the status, the Scout now represents how Indigenous people have played an immense role within the development of Canada. [6]

Criticism

In the 1990's the First Nations Assembly vocally expressed their discontent with the monument. They stated that it reflected an imperial colonial image of the relationship between settler and Indigenous people. Additionally, it supported the stereotypical ideology that Indigenous people required the guidance of white settlers. It depicted a one-sided story and not a multi-dimensional point of view.[7]

It constructed the ideology that First Nations were governed by obeisance. Ovide Mercredi, who was the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations at the time was dedicated to dismantling the Scout from the statue of Champlain. Therefore, the National Capital of Ottawa responded by removing the Scout from Champlain' monument and placing it in Major Hill Park. [8] According to an administrator of Heritage Services for Chippewas of Rame First Nations

"You wouldn't have the giant Champlain at the top with his sword and his high boots and his cloak on. He'd be sitting at a fire eating with us, learning from us, have us show him the medicines that we used to help cure his sick men"

[9]

Settlers and now Canadians, have a long history of depicting First Nations people in a faulty way such as the painting of Death of General Wolfe by Benjamin West in 1771. The painting depicts General Wolfe, who was murdered during the Battle of Quebec, as a Christ-like figure. The General is depicted as a hero that was killed by savages. The portraying of Indigenous people as savages was commonly used to justify the appropriation of land, as well as other violent colonial acts.

Looking back upon the oppressive history that settlers have imposed upon First Nation people through art it becomes imperative to address other forms of art that hold an imperial message. Many have stated our monuments should be a reflection of the sensitivity the Canadian states holds towards Indigenous people. The prior monument distorted the image of the reconciliation era we are currently in.

Some Indigenous individuals want to reclaim the Scout and to make of it a symbol of their culture and their nation. [10] They decided that they wanted to rename it, Gichi Zibi Omaani Winini Anishnaabe. Anishnaabe is an Indigenous cultural group that can be found in various places across North America. The Anishinaabeg people speak various Anishinaabe languages. [11] The Scout can now be found in an open environmental area that properly reflects Indigenous culture. Additionally, the Scout within his new position can be found staring at Samuel de Champlain on Nepean hill.

Future Plans

As of August 2017, new work is planned to construct a monument that depicts a two sided story. The National Capital is planning on constructing a monument beside Samuel De Champlain's monument. According to Mayor Steve Clark, the status should be a representation of our era and our values. [12] A new piece of art is supposed to be constructed that will depict the relationship that the Hurons-Wendat had with Champlain from an Indigenous perspective. [13] The National Capital is fully supporting the activism regarding the Scout.

Samanthawilliamson (talk) 17:03, 22 November 2017 (UTC)