[Bcma-l] What to Do with the Begbie Statue at UVIC Law
bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca
bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca
Wed, 12 Nov 2008 21:42:33 -0800
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I'm a little late into this controversy; I hadn't realized a Begbie =
statue being at UVIC was under such question, and I cannot find any =
Internet reference to the matter - at least not yet.
I think its another case of "Today's hero is tomorrow's bum." (And often =
vice-versa). Very recently I was in Budapest where there are countless =
statues of past "heroes", but they fill two spaces: Those depicting =
figures from the Austro-Hungarian Empire and before are found on almost =
every street corner; those from the Communist Era are heaped into a park =
outside of town, having been uprooted after 1989 and literally added to =
the dustbin of history. Yet each set means something important still.
Vienna also impressed me with its maze of heroic public statuary; it, =
too, has scores of historical figures cast in bronze located across the =
city, and truthfully, these add greatly to the sense of place and past - =
no matter how distinguished or villainous their respective reputations =
today may be. I'd hate to see any one of them carted-off to a park for =
bad guys; it would be anti-historical. (Ironically, the tallest statute =
in town is that of the liberating Russian Soldier, its erection a =
requirement that the USSR insisted upon before signing a peace treaty =
with Austria and ending its occupation of the latter following WW2. =
Should it be dragged-off now that the Soviet Union no longer exists and =
very few present-day Viennese have good feelings about the Red Army?).
One need go only as far as Winnipeg to see the effects of recent "statue =
politics" in our country. In 1970 a statue of Louis Riel (M. Lemay) was =
created for the Legislature grounds, but when unveiled, its massive, =
naked, twisted, agonized, haunting shape - barely recognized as a human =
form, far less a faithful rendering of Riel - immediately caused waves =
of outrage and protest, both in the general population and the Metis =
community itself. Poor old Louis - hung when human back in 1885, his =
statue was first scorned, then uprooted and shipped across the river to =
an obscure location in St. Boniface in 1994. That year, another =
facsimile of Riel (M. Joyal) was placed at the Legislature, but in this =
case he was dressed in a good suit, stood erect, and held aloft a mighty =
document - all to confirm him as a Father of Confederation (Manitoba's =
own). In short, "Yesterday's bum is today's hero".
The problem for statues is that they can't fight back. The difficulty =
for us in attacking statues is that its only shadow boxing . . . .
Dan Gallacher
----- Original Message -----=20
From: bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca=20
To: bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca=20
Sent: Saturday, November 08, 2008 4:09 PM
Subject: Re: [Bcma-l] What to Do with the Begbie Statue at UVIC Law
You are missing the entire point. These bygone interpretations should =
be left so people today can see how ignorant and biased the past =
historical interpretations were.
We present the Doukhobor history at our museum, but everywhere else, =
it is sanitized.
When the Dominion government cancelled 2500 homestead entries in =
Saskatchewan and left the Doukhobors homeless in 1906 after they had =
improved nearly 300,000 acres of land, we were told they failed to =
fulfill the requirements of the Homestead Act. James Mavor, an =
intelligent and compassionate man who helped with the immigration of the =
refugees from Russia, wrote every member of Parliament, begging them to =
reconsider and calling this new dispossession a breach of faith, all to =
no avail.
Frank Oliver carried out this outrage in cahoots with Reverend James =
McDougal. While they were disbanding communal groups in the NWT, they =
were also resettling natives to worse reservations and saving the arable =
land for 'more desirable settlers', which would come from Ontario and =
British Isles.
There is a statue of Oliver in Edmonton, but I would not like to see =
it removed. I would like it to stay there until it is recognized for =
what it is, a representation of an injustice which went on unpunished at =
the time, he being a representative of that day's ignorance. The same =
for Rev. McDougal.
After years of lobbying, I have managed to have this internal =
migration declared an an Event of National Importance.
Here is where the sanitizing comes in once again, with the HSMBC =
trying to put a positive spin on the interpretive signage, not decided =
yet, but the final wording is left to them.
Then we come to the BC history, where the BC government came into =
possession [stole] 76,000 acres of land [$11,000,000 worth of land and =
industry] by paying off $280,000. interest on a loan to finance and =
mortgage companies which the Christian Community of Universal =
Brotherhood was not able to do during the depression. Was there an =
agenda of assimilation?
In a most recent example, the Raspberry School in Castlegar was sold =
to CBT for $280,000. Not one cent was returned to the Doukhobor =
community such as our museum but went into the coffers of the school =
board although it was given to them gratis, also used till the sixties. =
The BC government took over roads, schools, bridges, used them and did =
not compensate anyone, e.g. the Doukhobor Suspension Bridge, a historic =
site since 1995, used by the Dept of Highways till 1965. [We managed to =
save the school from being destroyed and the bridge will now be =
restored].
However. none of this history is taught in BC schools and the few BC =
government historical publications are full of inaccuracies and positive =
spins.
And what of the Sons of Freedom children who were seized in predawn =
raids by the police and imprisoned in New Denver for years behind a =
chain link fence which they were forced to help build? Where is this =
history, even after an Ombudsman's report said that this was a gross =
injustice and inhuman action against children contrary to every known =
charter as espoused by the UN, Amnesty International etc. Children =
confined, abused, and only allowed to see their parents 2 hours monthly =
with a fence between them, their presents stolen by the staff and visits =
cancelled and used as punishment for any infraction.
I want to see this history, and I want the fence to remain in New =
Denver so people can see and remember.
We have only begun to deal with this history.
Sanitization and rewrite? No! Let's leave the villains on display so =
new generations can learn from their inhumanity. =20
2008/11/2 <bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca>
It really bothers me that those who control history "historians and =
curators" fail to tell the whole story when it comes to the history of =
the Aboriginal peoples in Canada and how they were and continue to be =
treated. Failure to accurately tell the story of colonization is a =
disgrace. When our cultural institutions develop exhibits and portray =
the Aboriginal peoples without a balanced story presented, then those =
institutions are guilty of "sanitizing and 'correcting' Canadian =
history". =20
The comment, "Perhaps if we continued to confront history in its =
actuality in our books and museums, we would grow to an appreciation of =
our society today, and perhaps, indeed we might learn something from it =
[condemned to repeat etc. . . ]" sounds like ,if people see the truth =
for what it is in museums and books then they will become accustomed to =
seeing it, and accept it as modern practices. Perhaps this line of =
thought goes very well with those that deny a holocaust even existed; =
see no evil, speak no evil, do no evil.
It seems that the continued masquerade is that society, represented =
by institutions, cultural centres, museums, court houses, etc. make no =
mention of how the First Nations were cheated of everything, while going =
on as if it is business as usual. The reality is that it is not =
business as usual. When ignorance is perpetuated, it only brings out =
anger and that is why a leading political figure's statue was toppled =
and the man beheaded quite recently. Do we want ignorance or do we want =
peace and righteousness? I want the latter.
This is a discussion as a result of some students at the University =
of Victoria wanting to destroy the statue of the hanging judge Begbie, =
which is proudly and prominently displayed in the foyer of the law =
school. I made the suggestion to have it moved before knowing that =
First Nation Elders performed a ceremony and restored balance to that =
space -- my guess is that it should be left alone. It seems that there =
are at least two other locations (court houses) where Begbie's statue is =
also displayed. I have no information to believe that balance is =
achieved in those locations. It has been said by at least one =
aboriginal law student that seeing Begbie, is like a Jewish person =
seeing Hitler. I think this discussion at the law school may have =
originally been prompted as a result of some recent newspaper articles =
that discussed how Aboriginal people are savages. =20
It is no wonder that Aboriginal people are demanding repatriation of =
their stolen ancestors' human remains and their stolen and =
misappropriated cultural objects, to control the land and archaeological =
sites, and to bring their culture back. It is no wonder that Aboriginal =
people want their own cultural institutions to be able to tell their =
stories to the public so that history is not repeated. We are all human =
beings and we just want the honour and recognition of that. To be =
labelled a savage, or to be portrayed as life were prior to contact is =
problematic. The first contact settler people often were greedy men =
looking for riches and wealth without regard for anybody else. They =
took Aboriginal women for wives and later abandoned them and their =
children, leaving a whole legacy of Metis peoples; there are court cases =
that chronicle this. Christoper Columbus was a slave trading tyrant, =
why do the history books not mention this? Why was Captain Cook killed =
by Aboriginal people? Why did the legal system in the 1850s protect the =
gold miners instead of call for justice when a Thompson Indian was hung =
for stealing a loaf of bread? Why don't we create exhibits that educate =
the public, why it is that Aboriginal people in Canada continue to =
remain in poverty; why drugs, alcohol, sexual abuse and suicide are so =
common on Indian Reserves; why the Indian Act was created and the =
problems/benefits it has created; why Aboriginal people make up the =
highest disproportional incarcerated demographic in prisons; why is =
there a New Relationship in BC, and moreover, why is it that Aboriginal =
people have a deep spiritual connection with the land and environment =
that was given to them by the Creator.
To me, a focus on Aboriginal peoples with special emphasis on =
indigenous legal traditions is very important. The law is evolutionary =
in nature and is now recognizing aboriginal law. Institutions that =
portray the history and the legal system should also portray Indigenous =
legal traditions as they are just as constitutionally valid as that of =
mainstream society. This goes back to a sacred treaty depicted in the =
two-row wampum signifying two canoes, one for Aboriginal peoples and one =
for non-Aboriginal peoples.=20
If cultural institutions cannot and will not accurately and =
respectfully do justice for the history of Aboriginal peoples, then =
those institutions should make immediate deaccession plans to give back =
what does not belong to them. Also, the justice system has failed =
Aboriginal people, perhaps, Aboriginal people should have more support =
and weight given to their own legal systems. =20
I hold my hands up in the West Coast tradition of saying thank you =
to Sharon Syrette for acknowledging that which I speak about.
BC150 Project Discovers Personal Stories
Sharon Syrette knows that the history of the early days of British =
Columbia is not limited to the likes of James Douglas and Matthew =
Begbie. Thousands of Aboriginal people and newcomers have shaped the =
province into what it is today.=20
"It's important to remember stories of our leaders, but we should =
acknowledge everyday people as well," she said.
Syrette is one of the founding members of Ama Liisaos Heritage Trust =
Society, based in Mission, which received a BC150 Mosaic Grant for its =
project When the Others Came.
I do not masquerade behind an anonymous posting,
The Enlightened, Troy Hunter
-------------------------------------------------------------------------=
---
To: bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca
Subject: Re: [Bcma-l] What to Do with the Begbie Statue at UVIC Law
From: bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca
Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2008 11:11:48 -0700=20
As a historian and curator, it really bothers me to see the =
continual progression of the sanitizing and correcting of Canadian =
history by the new generation enlightened.
Perhaps if we continued to confront history in its actuality in our =
books and museums, we would grow to an appreciation of our society =
today, and perhaps, indeed we might learn something from it [condemned =
to repeat etc. . . ]
I don't think we are doing our future generations any favours by =
this continued masquerade [something to think about on Halloween].
2008/10/30 <bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca>
Troy Hunter wrote:
=20
I think it is nice idea to get rid of the statue but I do admire =
the fine artistic details of it that show what he looked like way back =
when he was a riding judge for BC. I guess, I am a bit of a history =
buff, my undergrad is in cultural resource management. My =
recommendation would be to put it into some facility where the true =
story is told about what he did in regards to hanging people. I am sure =
that he was doing what a judge at that time and in his position would =
do. It really isn't (I don't think) about Begbie's personal beliefs, it =
was probably more to do with his job. Which then points the finger of =
blame directly at the Province of British Columbia. Considering that =
they (BC) covered over the native images at the Legislature building, =
that there is a New Relationship and post residential school apology, =
maybe Begbie's stern statuette should be replaced.
The Maritime Museum of BC is downtown Victoria and in the upstairs =
is the original courtroom where Begbie presided. I think that the =
statue would probably best be displayed in that space. Perhaps, with =
some help from the Cultural Resource Management Program and the law =
school, a proper exhibit could be developed.
As for what to do with the space left behind at the former Begbie =
Building, (law school), maybe something that is more on the idea of =
transformation, of change, of the future. I think that the time has =
passed to stop putting historical murdering judges on a pedestal and to =
put something with a little more deference to the Aboriginal peoples of =
Canada, something that would represent indigenous law. What that would =
like, I really don't know but maybe that would the basis for a new call =
for artwork.
=20
ANY TAKERS?
I would be pleased to sit on a committee or such. But somebody or =
organization must take the lead.
=20
Troy Hunter
Box 374
Merritt BC V1K 1B8
hunter@uvic.ca
-------------------------------------------------------------------------=
-
Use Windows Live Messenger to send messages to your buddies on =
their mobile phones Find out more on our PC to Mobile website
--=20
Larry A. Ewashen
Doukhobor Discovery Centre
112 Heritage Way
Castlegar BC V1N 4M5
www.Doukhobor-Museum.org
250-365-5327
Cell 250-365-6622
-------------------------------------------------------------------------=
---
Use Windows Live Messenger to send messages to your buddies on their =
mobile phones Find out more on our PC to Mobile website
--=20
Larry A. Ewashen
Doukhobor Discovery Centre
112 Heritage Way
Castlegar BC V1N 4M5
www.Doukhobor-Museum.org
250-365-5327
Cell 250-365-6622
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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I'm a little late into this =
controversy; I hadn't=20
realized a Begbie statue being at UVIC was under such =
question, and I=20
cannot find any Internet reference to the matter - at least not=20
yet.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I think its another case of "Today's =
hero is=20
tomorrow's bum." (And often vice-versa). Very recently I was in Budapest =
where=20
there are countless statues of past "heroes", but they fill two spaces: =
Those=20
depicting figures from the Austro-Hungarian Empire and before are found =
on=20
almost every street corner; those from the Communist Era are heaped into =
a park=20
outside of town, having been uprooted after 1989 and literally added to =
the=20
dustbin of history. Yet each set means something important =
still.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Vienna also impressed me with its maze =
of heroic=20
public statuary; it, too, has scores of historical figures cast in =
bronze=20
located across the city, and truthfully, these add greatly to the sense =
of place=20
and past - no matter how distinguished or villainous their respective=20
reputations today may be. I'd hate to see any one of them carted-off to =
a park=20
for bad guys; it would be anti-historical. (Ironically, the tallest =
statute in=20
town is that of the liberating Russian Soldier, its erection a =
requirement that the USSR insisted upon before signing a peace treaty =
with=20
Austria and ending its occupation of the latter following WW2. =
Should it be=20
dragged-off now that the Soviet Union no longer exists and =
very few=20
present-day Viennese have good feelings about the Red =
Army?).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>One need go only as far as Winnipeg to =
see the=20
effects of recent "statue politics" in our country. In 1970 a statue of =
Louis=20
Riel (M. Lemay) was created for the Legislature grounds, but when =
unveiled,=20
its massive, naked, twisted, agonized, haunting shape - barely =
recognized as a=20
human form, far less a faithful rendering of Riel - immediately =
caused=20
waves of outrage and protest, both in the general population and =
the Metis=20
community itself. Poor old Louis - hung when human back in =
1885, his=20
statue was first scorned, then uprooted and shipped across the river to =
an=20
obscure location in St. Boniface in 1994. That year, another facsimile =
of=20
Riel (M. Joyal) was placed at the Legislature, but in this =
case he=20
was dressed in a good suit, stood erect, and held aloft a mighty =
document - all=20
to confirm him as a Father of Confederation (Manitoba's own). In short,=20
"Yesterday's bum is today's hero".</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>The problem for statues is that they =
can't fight=20
back. The difficulty for us in attacking statues is that its only shadow =
boxing=20
. . . .</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Dan Gallacher</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE=20
style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV=20
style=3D"BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>=20
<A title=3Dbcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca=20
=
href=3D"mailto:bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca">bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.b=
c.ca</A>=20
</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
title=3Dbcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca=20
href=3D"mailto:bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca">bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca</A> =
</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, November 08, =
2008 4:09=20
PM</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Bcma-l] What to =
Do with the=20
Begbie Statue at UVIC Law</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>You are missing the entire point. These bygone interpretations =
should be=20
left so people today can see how ignorant and biased the past =
historical=20
interpretations were.</DIV>
<DIV>We present the Doukhobor history at our museum, but =
everywhere else,=20
it is sanitized.</DIV>
<DIV>When the Dominion government cancelled 2500 homestead entries in=20
Saskatchewan and left the Doukhobors homeless in 1906 after they had =
improved=20
nearly 300,000 acres of land, we were told they failed to fulfill the=20
requirements of the Homestead Act. James Mavor, an intelligent and=20
compassionate man who helped with the immigration of the refugees from =
Russia,=20
wrote every member of Parliament, begging them to reconsider and =
calling this=20
new dispossession a breach of faith, all to no avail.</DIV>
<DIV>Frank Oliver carried out this outrage in cahoots with Reverend =
James=20
McDougal. While they were disbanding communal groups in the NWT,=20
they were also resettling natives to worse reservations and =
saving the=20
arable land for 'more desirable settlers', which would come from =
Ontario and=20
British Isles.</DIV>
<DIV>There is a statue of Oliver in Edmonton, but I would not like to =
see it=20
removed. I would like it to stay there until it is recognized for what =
it is,=20
a representation of an injustice which went on unpunished at the time, =
he=20
being a representative of that day's ignorance. The same for Rev.=20
McDougal.</DIV>
<DIV>After years of lobbying, I have managed to have this internal =
migration=20
declared an an Event of National Importance.</DIV>
<DIV>Here is where the sanitizing comes in once again, with the HSMBC =
trying=20
to put a positive spin on the interpretive signage, not decided yet, =
but the=20
final wording is left to them.</DIV>
<DIV>Then we come to the BC history, where the BC government came into =
possession [stole] 76,000 acres of land [$11,000,000 worth of land and =
industry] by paying off $280,000. interest on a loan to finance and =
mortgage=20
companies which the Christian Community of Universal Brotherhood was =
not able=20
to do during the depression. Was there an agenda of =
assimilation?</DIV>
<DIV>In a most recent example, the Raspberry School in Castlegar was =
sold to=20
CBT for $280,000. Not one cent was returned to the Doukhobor community =
such as=20
our museum but went into the coffers of the school board although it =
was given=20
to them gratis, also used till the sixties. The BC government took =
over roads,=20
schools, bridges, used them and did not compensate anyone, e.g. the =
Doukhobor=20
Suspension Bridge, a historic site since 1995, used by the Dept of =
Highways=20
till 1965. [We managed to save the school from being destroyed and the =
bridge=20
will now be restored].</DIV>
<DIV>However. none of this history is taught in BC schools and the few =
BC=20
government historical publications are full of inaccuracies and =
positive=20
spins.</DIV>
<DIV>And what of the Sons of Freedom children who were seized in =
predawn raids=20
by the police and imprisoned in New Denver for years behind a chain =
link fence=20
which they were forced to help build? Where is this history, even =
after=20
an Ombudsman's report said that this was a gross injustice and inhuman =
action=20
against children contrary to every known charter as espoused by the =
UN,=20
Amnesty International etc. Children confined, abused, and only allowed =
to see=20
their parents 2 hours monthly with a fence between them, their =
presents stolen=20
by the staff and visits cancelled and used as punishment for any=20
infraction.</DIV>
<DIV>I want to see this history, and I want the fence to remain in New =
Denver=20
so people can see and remember.</DIV>
<DIV>We have only begun to deal with this history.</DIV>
<DIV>Sanitization and rewrite? No! Let's leave the villains on display =
so new=20
generations can learn from their =
inhumanity. <BR><BR></DIV>
<DIV class=3Dgmail_quote>2008/11/2 <SPAN dir=3Dltr><<A=20
=
href=3D"mailto:bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca">bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.b=
c.ca</A>></SPAN><BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE class=3Dgmail_quote=20
style=3D"PADDING-LEFT: 1ex; MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; BORDER-LEFT: =
#ccc 1px solid">
<DIV>
<DIV style=3D"TEXT-ALIGN: left">It really bothers me that those who =
control=20
history "historians and curators" fail to tell the whole story when =
it comes=20
to the history of the Aboriginal peoples in Canada and how they were =
and=20
continue to be treated. Failure to accurately tell the story =
of=20
colonization is a disgrace. When our cultural institutions =
develop=20
exhibits and portray the Aboriginal peoples without a balanced story =
presented, then those institutions are guilty of "sanitizing and=20
'correcting' Canadian history". <BR><BR>The comment, "Perhaps =
if we=20
continued to confront history in its actuality in our books and =
museums, we=20
would grow to an appreciation of our society today, and perhaps, =
indeed we=20
might learn something from it [condemned to repeat etc. . . ]" =
sounds like=20
,if people see the truth for what it is in museums and books then =
they will=20
become accustomed to seeing it, and accept it as modern =
practices. =20
Perhaps this line of thought goes very well with those that deny a =
holocaust=20
even existed; see no evil, speak no evil, do no =
evil.<BR></DIV><BR>It seems=20
that the continued masquerade is that society, represented by =
institutions,=20
cultural centres, museums, court houses, etc. make no mention of how =
the=20
First Nations were cheated of everything, while going on as if it is =
business as usual. The reality is that it is not business as=20
usual. When ignorance is perpetuated, it only brings out anger =
and=20
that is why a leading political figure's statue was toppled and the =
man=20
beheaded quite recently. Do we want ignorance or do we want =
peace and=20
righteousness? I want the latter.<BR><BR>This is a discussion =
as a=20
result of some students at the University of Victoria wanting to =
destroy the=20
statue of the hanging judge Begbie, which is proudly and prominently =
displayed in the foyer of the law school. I made the =
suggestion to=20
have it moved before knowing that First Nation Elders performed a =
ceremony=20
and restored balance to that space -- my guess is that it should be =
left=20
alone. It seems that there are at least two other locations =
(court=20
houses) where Begbie's statue is also displayed. I have no =
information=20
to believe that balance is achieved in those locations. It has =
been=20
said by at least one aboriginal law student that seeing Begbie, is =
like a=20
Jewish person seeing Hitler. I think this discussion at the =
law school=20
may have originally been prompted as a result of some recent =
newspaper=20
articles that discussed how Aboriginal people are savages. =
<BR><BR>It=20
is no wonder that Aboriginal people are demanding repatriation of =
their=20
stolen ancestors' human remains and their stolen and misappropriated =
cultural objects, to control the land and archaeological sites, and =
to bring=20
their culture back. It is no wonder that Aboriginal people =
want their=20
own cultural institutions to be able to tell their stories to the =
public so=20
that history is not repeated. We are all human beings and we =
just want=20
the honour and recognition of that. To be labelled a savage, =
or to be=20
portrayed as life were prior to contact is problematic. The =
first=20
contact settler people often were greedy men looking for riches and =
wealth=20
without regard for anybody else. They took Aboriginal women =
for wives=20
and later abandoned them and their children, leaving a whole legacy =
of Metis=20
peoples; there are court cases that chronicle this. Christoper =
Columbus was a slave trading tyrant, why do the history books not =
mention=20
this? Why was Captain Cook killed by Aboriginal people? =
Why did=20
the legal system in the 1850s protect the gold miners instead of =
call for=20
justice when a Thompson Indian was hung for stealing a loaf of =
bread? =20
Why don't we create exhibits that educate the public, why it is that =
Aboriginal people in Canada continue to remain in poverty; why =
drugs,=20
alcohol, sexual abuse and suicide are so common on Indian Reserves; =
why the=20
Indian Act was created and the problems/benefits it has created; why =
Aboriginal people make up the highest disproportional incarcerated=20
demographic in prisons; why is there a New Relationship in BC, and =
moreover,=20
why is it that Aboriginal people have a deep spiritual connection =
with the=20
land and environment that was given to them by the =
Creator.<BR><BR>To me, a=20
focus on Aboriginal peoples with special emphasis on indigenous =
legal=20
traditions is very important. The law is evolutionary in =
nature and is=20
now recognizing aboriginal law. Institutions that portray the =
history=20
and the legal system should also portray Indigenous legal traditions =
as they=20
are just as constitutionally valid as that of mainstream =
society. This=20
goes back to a sacred treaty depicted in the two-row wampum =
signifying two=20
canoes, one for Aboriginal peoples and one for non-Aboriginal =
peoples.=20
<BR><BR>If cultural institutions cannot and will not accurately and=20
respectfully do justice for the history of Aboriginal peoples, then =
those=20
institutions should make immediate deaccession plans to give back =
what does=20
not belong to them. Also, the justice system has failed =
Aboriginal=20
people, perhaps, Aboriginal people should have more support and =
weight given=20
to their own legal systems. <BR><BR>I hold my hands up in the =
West=20
Coast tradition of saying thank you to Sharon Syrette for =
acknowledging that=20
which I speak about.<BR><BR>
<P style=3D"COLOR: rgb(0,0,255)"><SPAN>BC150 Project Discovers =
Personal=20
Stories</SPAN></P>
<P style=3D"COLOR: rgb(0,0,255)">Sharon Syrette knows that the =
history of the=20
early days of British Columbia is not limited to the likes of James =
Douglas=20
and Matthew Begbie. Thousands of Aboriginal people and newcomers =
have shaped=20
the province into what it is today. </P>
<P style=3D"COLOR: rgb(0,0,255)">"It's important to remember stories =
of our=20
leaders, but we should acknowledge everyday people as well," she=20
said.</P><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: rgb(0,0,255)">Syrette is one of the =
founding=20
members of Ama Liisaos Heritage Trust Society, based in Mission, =
which=20
received a BC150 Mosaic Grant for its project </SPAN><I=20
style=3D"COLOR: rgb(0,0,255)">When the Others Came</I><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: rgb(0,0,255)">.</SPAN><BR style=3D"COLOR: =
rgb(0,0,255)"><BR>I do=20
not masquerade behind an anonymous posting,<BR>The Enlightened, Troy =
Hunter<BR>
<HR>
<DIV class=3DIh2E3d>To: <A href=3D"mailto:bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca"=20
target=3D_blank>bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca</A><BR></DIV>Subject: Re: =
[Bcma-l]=20
What to Do with the Begbie Statue at UVIC Law<BR>From: <A=20
href=3D"mailto:bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca"=20
target=3D_blank>bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca</A><BR>Date: Fri, 31 =
Oct 2008=20
11:11:48 -0700=20
<DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV class=3DWj3C7c><BR><BR>
<DIV>As a historian and curator, it really bothers me to see the =
continual=20
progression of the sanitizing and correcting of Canadian history by =
the new=20
generation enlightened.</DIV>
<DIV>Perhaps if we continued to confront history in its actuality in =
our=20
books and museums, we would grow to an appreciation of our society =
today,=20
and perhaps, indeed we might learn something from it [condemned to =
repeat=20
etc. . . ]</DIV>
<DIV>I don't think we are doing our future generations any favours =
by this=20
continued masquerade [something to think about on =
Halloween].<BR><BR></DIV>
<DIV>2008/10/30 <SPAN dir=3Dltr><<A=20
href=3D"mailto:bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca"=20
target=3D_blank>bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca</A>></SPAN><BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE=20
style=3D"PADDING-LEFT: 1ex; BORDER-LEFT: rgb(204,204,204) 1px =
solid">
<DIV>Troy Hunter wrote:<BR> <BR>
<DIV><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: purple; FONT-FAMILY: =
Tahoma">I=20
think it is nice idea to get rid of the statue but I do admire the =
fine=20
artistic details of it that show what he looked like way back when =
he was=20
a riding judge for BC. I guess, I am a bit of a history =
buff, my=20
undergrad is in cultural resource management. My =
recommendation=20
would be to put it into some facility where the true story is told =
about=20
what he did in regards to hanging people. I am sure that he =
was=20
doing what a judge at that time and in his position would do. =
It=20
really isn't (I don't think) about Begbie's personal beliefs, it =
was=20
probably more to do with his job. Which then points the =
finger of=20
blame directly at the Province of British Columbia. =
Considering that=20
they (BC) covered over the native images at the Legislature =
building, that=20
there is a New Relationship and post residential school apology, =
maybe=20
Begbie's stern statuette should be replaced.</SPAN><BR></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: purple; FONT-FAMILY: =
Tahoma"></SPAN><BR> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: purple; FONT-FAMILY: =
Tahoma">The=20
Maritime Museum of BC is downtown Victoria and in the upstairs is =
the=20
original courtroom where Begbie presided. I think that the =
statue=20
would probably best be displayed in that space. Perhaps, =
with some=20
help from the Cultural Resource Management Program and the law =
school, a=20
proper exhibit could be developed.</SPAN><BR></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: purple; FONT-FAMILY: =
Tahoma"></SPAN><BR> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: purple; FONT-FAMILY: =
Tahoma">As=20
for what to do with the space left behind at the former Begbie =
Building,=20
(law school), maybe something that is more on the idea of =
transformation,=20
of change, of the future. I think that the time has passed =
to stop=20
putting historical murdering judges on a pedestal and to put =
something=20
with a little more deference to the Aboriginal peoples of Canada,=20
something that would represent indigenous law. What that =
would like,=20
I really don't know but maybe that would the basis for a new call =
for=20
artwork.</SPAN><BR><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: purple; FONT-FAMILY: =
Tahoma"></SPAN> <BR><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: purple; FONT-FAMILY: =
Tahoma"><STRONG><FONT=20
color=3D#000000>ANY TAKERS?</FONT></STRONG></SPAN><BR><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: purple; FONT-FAMILY: =
Tahoma"><FONT face=3D""=20
color=3D#000000>I would be pleased to sit on a committee or =
such. But=20
somebody or organization must take the =
lead.</FONT></SPAN><BR><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: purple; FONT-FAMILY: =
Tahoma"><FONT=20
color=3D#000000></FONT></SPAN> <BR><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: purple; FONT-FAMILY: =
Tahoma"><FONT=20
color=3D#000000>Troy Hunter</FONT></SPAN><BR><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: purple; FONT-FAMILY: =
Tahoma"><FONT=20
color=3D#000000>Box 374</FONT></SPAN><BR><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: purple; FONT-FAMILY: =
Tahoma"><FONT face=3D""=20
color=3D#000000>Merritt BC V1K 1B8</FONT></SPAN><BR><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: purple; FONT-FAMILY: =
Tahoma"><FONT=20
color=3D#000000><A href=3D"mailto:hunter@uvic.ca"=20
target=3D_blank>hunter@uvic.ca</A></FONT></SPAN><BR></DIV><BR>
<HR>
Use Windows Live Messenger to send messages to your buddies on =
their=20
mobile phones <A href=3D"http://www.pc2mobile.ca/" =
target=3D_blank>Find out=20
more on our PC to Mobile =
website</A></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR><BR=20
clear=3Dall><BR>-- <BR>Larry A. Ewashen<BR>Doukhobor Discovery =
Centre<BR>112=20
Heritage Way<BR>Castlegar BC V1N 4M5<BR><A=20
href=3D"http://www.doukhobor-museum.org/"=20
target=3D_blank>www.Doukhobor-Museum.org</A><BR>250-365-5327<BR>Cell =
250-365-6622<BR><BR>
<HR>
Use Windows Live Messenger to send messages to your buddies on their =
mobile=20
phones <A href=3D"http://www.pc2mobile.ca/" target=3D_blank>Find out =
more on our=20
PC to Mobile website</A></DIV></DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR><BR =
clear=3Dall><BR>-- <BR>Larry A. Ewashen<BR>Doukhobor Discovery =
Centre<BR>112=20
Heritage Way<BR>Castlegar BC V1N 4M5<BR><A=20
=
href=3D"http://www.Doukhobor-Museum.org">www.Doukhobor-Museum.org</A><BR>=
250-365-5327<BR>Cell=20
250-365-6622<BR></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>
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