Halifax’s Mi’kmaq poet laureate calls council’s decision on Cornwallis ‘disrespectful’ – CBC

May 12, 2016

Rebecca Thomas is writing a poem addressing the 8 councillors who voted down the motion

Halifax’s first Mi’kmaq poet laureate says she is disappointed — but not surprised — city council rejected a debate over reviewing public sites named for Edward Cornwallis, the city’s controversial founder.

Rebecca Thomas criticized the all-white group who appointed her to the role in March, noting the “sweet irony” of some concerns that history would be erased in favour of an indigenous narrative.

“It’s disrespectful,” Thomas said in an interview Wednesday.

“The only difference between those council fears and our fears is that council has the power … to veto those conversations.”

Read More: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/edward-cornwallis-naming-mi-kmaq-poet-laureate-1.3578604