1,000 signatures reached
To: Mayor Mike Savage and HRM Council
Remove the Edward Cornwallis Statue
We are calling on the city to remove the Edward Cornwallis statue. It is symbolic of a history of violence and genocide against Indigenous Peoples and stands in the way of reconciliation.
Why is this important?
Edward Cornwallis was a British military commander commonly known as the founder of the city of Halifax. In 1749 Cornwallis issued a bounty on the scalps of Mi'kmaq people, an action Mi'kmaq historian Daniel N. Paul has characterized as a policy of genocide. The Cornwallis statue is a painful reminder of Canada’s history of colonialism, violence and racism against Indigenous peoples. In the spirit of reconciliation and in the interests of moving towards a new nation-to-nation relationship, we are calling on Halifax Regional Council to remove the statue and take immediate steps to work with Indigenous communities to ensure that public spaces in HRM are respectful and inclusive of Indigenous histories and treaties.
On July 15th a ceremony was held to cover the statue, but the cover was removed shortly afterwards. Now we are calling on the city to permanently remove the statue.
On July 15th a ceremony was held to cover the statue, but the cover was removed shortly afterwards. Now we are calling on the city to permanently remove the statue.