Councillors support installing signs that share Indigenous history at 'problematic' sites in Hamilton

Councillors have voted in favour of setting up signs at six sites in the city that will indicate they're "problematic" and provide Indigenous history, following a review of Hamilton's landmarks and monuments, including the statue of John A. Macdonald.

The emergency and community services committee received a report Thursday calling for the city to build relationships with local Indigenous communities based on trust and respect, hire an Indigenous community liaison and curator and prioritize gathering spaces for Indigenous community members.

It also suggested setting up some sort of sign at five "high priority sites" that will say the city is aware they're "problematic and educates the public about the need for further consultation."

"Our intent is to round out the true history," said Shelly Hill, manager of Indigenous relations for the city.

Committee members voted 4-0 in favour of the report and its recommendations. It will go to council on May 11.

The six locations singled out in the report include the Ryerson Recreation Centre, two sites of monuments to United Empire Loyalists on Main Street East and Dundurn Park, the Stoney Creek site of an Augustus Jones monument, and two spots in Gore Park — the site of a statue of Queen Victoria and where the statue of John A. Macdonald stood before it was hauled down last summer.

Those locations were identified by a circle of experts and First Peoples Group, an Indigenous advisory firm based in Ottawa, as requiring "additional context to provide Indigenous history," the report reads.

Melissa Hammell, a senior associate with group, described the review as a chance to celebrate the area's rich history and the true story of its Indigenous occupants.

"What a beautiful opportunity you have in front of you to shift the heritage story from one of colonial and Euro-Canadian landscapes to one that includes and celebrates the people that have been here since time immemorial and are still here today, stronger than ever," she told councillors.

A document titled Honouring our Roots was prepared by First People's Group and shared with councillors.

It says the statue of John A. Macdonald should not be reinstalled and that the base and cannons that remain should also be taken away. A ceremony should be held to cleanse the site and Indigenous and non-Indigenous community members should have a chance to reenvision what should stand there, it adds.

"While Sir John A Macdonald is the 'hot-button' topic in Hamilton because of the way the statue was removed, it is important not to let this discussion over-shadow all the other important work that needs to be done," the report states.

Relocating or providing reinterpretation of the statue might have been an option if the city had voluntarily removed it, the report reads, but setting it back up now would be a "step in the wrong direction."

Instead it recommends putting all remaining pieces of the statue in storage indefinitely to allow for community engagement to happen "in a good way."