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Almost daily, OrilliaMatters publishes a letter written to protest the decision by Parks Canada regarding the Champlain Monument.
Writers invoke history as the reason that Parks Canada is mistaken in its decision.
Letters from one author contained impressive vocabulary, but I do not think a case was made. Saturday's letter has laid blame on a tribal council.
I wonder how many of the "Put the Champlain Monument Back As It Was" camp have read Champlain's journals, a history direct from his pen.
In his journals, Champlain records many situations in which his explorations and survival depended on the help and leadership of Indigenous people.
The Champlain Monument was conceived to celebrate the opening of Canada to European commerce, and as the original plaque recorded, was a recognition of the role of the white race using religion and commerce to subjugate Indigenous civilization.
Many of the churches that Orillians attend have long ago apologized for the ills done to Indigenous people in church-run residential schools. They did not say, "Accept this - it is history." They understood that hurtful consequences live on and they apologized.
That is why it is inappropriate to return the figures originally situated below Champlain to that configuration. It represents a very selective depiction of historical events.
It does not acknowledge the role of Indigenous society in enabling Champlain and his party to survive, travel and return home to France on several occasions.
The sculptures are beautifully rendered. Each human figure is cast as a separate piece of sculpture. The beauty of the sculptures will not disappear in a new configuration.
Janet Houston
Orillia
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