The Battlefords’ own Brett Wilson has waded into the ‘history wars’ on Twitter on Thursday and Friday.
Wilson was likely reacting to the multitude of news stories lately about activists looking to take down the names of historic figures from buildings or statues due to their past policies against minority groups. This week in Canada, the big story has been about calls by teachers to remove the name of John A. Macdonald from schools in Ontario, over his policies regarding Indigenous people.
Wilson made his own thoughts known with this Tweet:
“As a descendant of Irish / French /Mennonite immigrants / settlers - I want the names of everyone who bullied my ancestors obliterated. Now”, stated Wilson.
“Brett you went to far with this one” was the response of CMAW (@CMAWunion).
“And I would argue others are going way to far. The beauty of free speech. Not hatred or angry. But erasers don’t change history.” fired back Wilson.
“And comparing your background or mine is insensitive First Nations are not starting from the same place” responded CMAW.
Wilson: “Frankly you have no idea - in that comment - of the atrocities in our family lore - suffered by ancestors. I am not trivializing anyone.”
“Well what happened to my ancestors or your ancestors isn’t really the point the point is what still happens today” - CMAW (@CMAWunion)
The exchange later involved Lori Whitecalf, chief of Sweetgrass First Nation, who tweeted: “Your privilege is showing !”
“Explain your lense on privilege. It’s a wide brush you paint with...” - Wilson (@WBrettWilson)
“According to Sir John A MacDonald ‘I am only a savage who can read and write.’ He should be learned about not revered .” - Whitecalf (@lwhitecalf)
One commenter suggested perhaps Wilson’s account might have been hacked. “Has someone hacked your account Brett? That comment doesn’t sound like the compassionate guy we saw on Dragon’s Den.”
One poster put up a cartoon of a statue of Maurice “Rocket” Richard featuring a man wearing a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey pointing to it and saying “ ...Oppressive reminder of the past! Take it down!”
