APTN National News
A report by a Mi’kmaq scholar denounces the controversial Mother Canada statue.
The statue is part of a war memorial proposed for a National Park in Cape Breton, N.S.
Critics say the statue will pave over a pristine part of the Cape Breton Highlands.
The Mi’kmaq say it will also pave over Aboriginal rights and title.
APTN’s Trina Roache has the story.
The report from what you describe as a Micmac scholar denouncing the Mother Canada statue is not an opinion shared by many in the Micmac community. The place he describes are sacred is nothing short than what elders would consider as bull. That area was never used specifically for food & medicine gathering. According to oral tradition that area was occasionally used for hunting. About 75% of the totoal Micmac population have not heard of Mother Canada and this supposedly expert is obviously not speaking for those who have never heard of this project. Someone is grand standing for the sake of attention!
This is one of the best pieces I’ve seen on the “monument” issue. I congratulate APTN for its balanced reporting that’s presented an issue importnt for all peoples interested in the way we all use the land, particularly that land entrusted to Parks Canada.
In this piece you’ve refrained from sarcasm, judgement, commentary on the statue’s aesthetic and stuck to the issue at hand.
Thanks for a job well done.
Excellent coverage of a massively misguided, politically motivated project that ingnores the accepted National Park policies we all once believed in. The political interference here is unbelievable, and Parks Canada’s blind obedience to its political bosses will, unfortunately, come back to bite it big time! As for the tourism increase hoped for by local businesses, I’m afraid that the area will become known more for the paving over rather than for the beauty of its natural assets.
Thanks for covering this from an aboriginal perspective .Hopefully Tuma Young’s work will be respected and given weight by Parks Canada.