Rename Cornwallis
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Author:
n/a -
Send To:
To the Governments of Canada, Great Britain, the province of Nova Scotia, and all its municipalities and school boards
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Sponsored By:
The Rename Cornwallis Initiative -
More Info at:
History relates that on October 1, 1749, English Colonial Governor Edward Cornwallis and his Military Council met aboard HMS Beaufort, at anchor in Chebucto Harbour, now Halifax, and decided that it would be in the best interests of Protestant colonizing of Nova Scotia to exterminate the Mi'kmaq population. To help realize their ethnic cleansing goal, they approved a motion to offer a bounty of ten pounds per scalp for the scalps of Mi'kmaq men, women, and children. On June 21, 1750, probably because scalps were not coming in fast enough, they revisited the issue and raised the bounty.
Professor Geoffrey Plank of the University of Cincinnati comments about their rational for approving such a barbarous course of action:
"If the Micmac chose to resist his expropriation of land, the governor intended to conduct a war unlike any that had been fought in Nova Scotia before. He outlined his thinking in an unambiguous letter to the Board of Trade. If there was to be a war, he did not want the war to end with a peace agreement. 'It would be better to root the Micmac out of the peninsula decisively and forever.' The war began soon after the governor made this statement."
Therefore, we the undersigned, because we firmly believe that no person who attempted genocide should, under any circumstances, receive public honors, express support for changing the name of all public entities such as schools, streets, parks, etc. which currently honor the name of Edward Cornwallis, founder of the British colonial city of Halifax which is currently the capital city of the province of Nova Scotia, Canada.
We ask this be done as a move towards restoring justice to the Mi'kmaq First Nation People of Nova Scotia. Governor Cornwallis, as part of the machinery of colonization, attempting to destroy them completely, oversaw the infliction of terrible suffering and indignities on men, women and children of the Mi'kmaq Nation. Morally, no Nation that self-describes itself as civilized, can justify honoring such a man. His action demands that he be condemned by honorable caring citizens, not honored!
Professor Geoffrey Plank of the University of Cincinnati comments about their rational for approving such a barbarous course of action:
"If the Micmac chose to resist his expropriation of land, the governor intended to conduct a war unlike any that had been fought in Nova Scotia before. He outlined his thinking in an unambiguous letter to the Board of Trade. If there was to be a war, he did not want the war to end with a peace agreement. 'It would be better to root the Micmac out of the peninsula decisively and forever.' The war began soon after the governor made this statement."
Therefore, we the undersigned, because we firmly believe that no person who attempted genocide should, under any circumstances, receive public honors, express support for changing the name of all public entities such as schools, streets, parks, etc. which currently honor the name of Edward Cornwallis, founder of the British colonial city of Halifax which is currently the capital city of the province of Nova Scotia, Canada.
We ask this be done as a move towards restoring justice to the Mi'kmaq First Nation People of Nova Scotia. Governor Cornwallis, as part of the machinery of colonization, attempting to destroy them completely, oversaw the infliction of terrible suffering and indignities on men, women and children of the Mi'kmaq Nation. Morally, no Nation that self-describes itself as civilized, can justify honoring such a man. His action demands that he be condemned by honorable caring citizens, not honored!
3199 Signatures
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Nancy S
- Comments
- yes
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shari j
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Christine R
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Elaine D
- Comments
- I agree fully with this petition and sign my name to it.
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Jerry W
- Comments
- I'm appalled that my ancestors endured such action
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Christine C
- Comments
- В
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Dawn F
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- Almost everything done to Native Americans makes me ashamed to be white. The really unjust, immoral and illegal part is that both the Canadian and American governments are still doing little to correct the past lies and illegal acts.
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Dave O
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Michael R
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Buddy h
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Andrew M
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- Edward Cornwallis was a nasty piece of work.
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James Victor O
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- Like the Beothuck, the Mi`kmaq Nation was slated for extermination by those who would take the lands of Mikmaki for their own use. I am proud to have the honor of being part of a people which such a rich cultural haritage.
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Keith F O
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- It is disturbing to read about the actions of a British military leader against the people from which I am a desendant.
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Kim M
- Comments
- Cornwallis should be a part of our history lessons ... for the attempted genocide of the Mi'kmaq people
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Joe W
- Comments
- We have made many changes for the good in this country, it's time to stop honouring someone who wished to exterminate our ancestors.
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Curtis D
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Joel F
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Bronwyn A
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Tony S
- Comments
- In both a personal and professional capacity as editor and publisher of Shunpiking Magazine, Nova Scotia
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Greg M
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Linda M
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- This part of history is very sad. The English must also answer to the Acadian people of Nova Scotia. The English do not have a great record in their colonies around the world.
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Lauren M
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Bradford F
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- I feel that my signature is but one small thing that I can do for my family. I'm proud of my heritage the Mi'kmaq people. and it's abot time this was done.
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Jason Woodman S
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Sarah S
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Gary H
- Comments
- Upper Canada Metis Family supports this petition.
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Jeremy R
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HENRY D
- Comments
- GREAT JUSTICE
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Jennifer J
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Gail C
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Alice Blondin P
- Comments
- Please do not honour Edward Cornwallis who tried to annihilate the Mi'kmaq of Nova Scotia.
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Raylene S
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Cameron M
- Comments
- If you don't remove his name, at least include an accurate history of the genocide he led wherever his name stands.
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CONRAD K C
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Bonita G
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Danny Z
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Shawn H
- Comments
- (This should have happened long ago.)
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Robert C B
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Joanne C
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George S
- Comments
- Cornwallis should have never recieved any recognition for an indigionus peoples massacare
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Alice S
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Dan B
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- Naming public things after Cornwallis is ethnic intimidation. You wouldn't name public places after German Nazis of WWII in and around Jews.
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Lauretta S
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- With all the racisim and discrimination we have endured over the centuries, it is about time that positive changes are being made.
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Nicole W
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Linda B
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Cliff M
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- The sooner the better. This man does not deserve any recognition in Canada other than a footnote about the atrocities he attempted.
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Daniel Joseph M
- Comments
- Potlotek first nation(chapel island) nova scotia
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gloria m
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- represent the mikmaq and all it's nations
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Ursula A. J
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- Remove the second bounty as well.
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Dennis N
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- Its my honour to sign my name because i am Mik'maq
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3199
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