Names matter: we need a plan to bring in new monuments to better reflect Ottawa’s diversity

My ancestors had names for all the places they travelled and lived relating to descriptions of the land and legends of the tribe. These Indigenous names across Turtle Island have been erased, without the consideration of First Nations. This was the genesis of cancel culture.

Moving forward, we must work to remember this country’s past, but not do so selectively. We mustn’t cherry-pick the highlights and hide the shames. I urge you to listen, to engage with the descendants of the First Peoples of this land, and to learn the true history of the land you call home. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Opinion

BY SENATOR MARY JANE MCCALLUM

June 21, 2023

Names matter. They convey information about who we are, who counts, and who is in control. For First Nations who have been oppressed and erased in their homeland, names matter even more. The names of our ancestors—unlike settler ancestors—were deliberat...

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