Regina’s controversial downtown statue of Canada’s first prime minister has been slightly, but unofficially, dismantled.
The bronze-coloured nameplate of John A. Macdonald, mounted on the statue’s concrete base, was missing Monday and Tuesday. The City of Regina told the Leader-Post the missing plaque has been reported to the police.
The plaque has the man’s name with the phrase Father of Confederation inscribed on it.
Activist Kerry Bellegarde-Opoonechaw, who wants the statue removed from Victoria Park, says she's against vandalism and is opposed to the random removal of the plaque.
Regina Police Service spokeswoman Elizabeth Popowich confirmed the RPS has the city’s complaint and is trying to find the missing plaque. She said the case is being treated as one of mischief and possible theft.
Bellegarde-Opoonechaw and fellow activist Star Andreas had been protesting the statue’s presence in Regina’s Victoria Park for at least three weeks throughout the summer.
They believe the statute shouldn’t be in a public space, given Macdonald’s history of supporting Canada’s residential school system and working with Edgar Dewdney on starvation policies directed at Indigenous people in the western Prairies in the 1800s.
Bellegarde-Opoonechaw and Andreas had spoken with Mayor Michael Fougere in July about their ideas for what should be done with the statue.
Bellegarde-Opoonechaw said that, as a result of her protest, she faced significant racism, taunts and spitting in the community.
“There's no need for this much negativity ... put (the statue) in a political place like the RCMP detachment or the Government House, where like matters are displayed,” she told the Leader-Post. “I'm against violence and vandalism and crime.”
The city is now doing what it calls a “legacy review,” which started in July.
A September update said the city is working with Reconciliation Regina as it hears input from elders and Indigenous and non-Indigenous “artists, curators, museums and other art collectors” to understand perceptions of the statue. The city is also gathering input on what to do with the statue.
Beatrice LaFramboise, Andreas’ mother, is one of the elders who has spoken with the city as part of the review. She said the statue ought to be moved to the provincial Legislature.
Macdonald’s involvement with residential schools is one example of how problematic his legacy is, said LaFramboise, 81.
“I had very dear, close friends that were sexually abused over and over again in a residential school.
“Even my half-sister, she had a sister that was raped by a priest; her and another woman got pregnant by priests,” she said.
The next step in which she’ll likely be involved is another meeting to give more input to the city. She’s hopeful a spiritual ceremony conducted by elders will give the city and elders further guidance about what to do with the statue.
The city said the new council, to be elected Nov. 9, will discuss a summary and a report of the legacy review about the statue in December.
Popowich asked anyone who sees the plaque or hears people talking about it to report it to police or Crime Stoppers.
