Halifax’s decision to take down the Edward Cornwallis statue last year meant a lot to Chief Morley Googoo and the Assembly of First Nations.
It wasn’t the reason the assembly picked Halifax over four other Canadians cities for the site of its annual general assembly next July.
But Googoo, the assembly’s regional chief, said the city’s decision to remove the monument in honour of the colonial founder of Halifax who put a bounty on Mi’kmaq people, took courage. It was met with some resistance but the decision was important to the Mi’kmaq.
It was a move toward reconciliation, said Googoo.
“The city continues to be a champion of reconciliation with the partnerships they’ve been doing,” said Googoo. “The Waterfront Development Corporation has talked about having more of a Mi’kmaq presence along the waterfront and we’re working with them to be able to do that.
“The mayor and the province’s chiefs have a great relationship and with myself. I’ve seen him acknowledge our territory in rooms he didn’t know I was in.”
The assembly is expected to draw 600 First Nation chiefs and 1,600 delegates from around the country.
Googoo was in Halifax on Monday to make the announcement accompanied by a chorus of Indigenous athletes and performers. The city will also host the North American Indigenous Games next summer and it’s expected to be the largest sporting event ever held in Halifax. It will run concurrently with the assembly’s gathering.
“Every time the games goes to another city it strengthens the sustainability of the games,” said Googoo. “We will be working over the next year with all stakeholders to build a comprehensive and immersive agenda that showcases Mi’kma’ki and our Mi’kmaq culture to all First Nations leadership.”
Halifax Mayor Mike Savage attended the announcement and said the city hosting both events is a big deal that will contribute to the process of reconciliation.
“For me, reconciliation is about respect and understanding,” said Savage. “Part of that understanding comes from talking to people and seeing people on the streets of Halifax and recognizing that we have a lot of shared beliefs and priorities as a city, as a country, as a people.”
“So I think it will be an awesome opportunity to bring people together to have some of those conversations.”
Two other Indigenous youth initiatives were also announced at Monday’s event. Ten Mi’kmaq youth will join 130 students and mentors in the largest ever Students on Ice Arctic Expedition. Starting Tuesday they’ll head off on a two-week journey throughout northern Inuit communities aboard the MS Ocean Endeavour while learning about environmental stewardship and acquiring leadership skills.
Neylan Stevens, an Eskasoni high school student, will be among the crew. She said she’s excited about the adventure, especially the prospect of learning more about Inuit cultures.
“It’s important for me that our own culture and language is preserved because it’s kind of dying off,” said Stevens.
Five young Mi’kmaq athletes will also join the Mekite’tm 2019 delegation, in an immersive cultural exchange in Lima, Peru, coinciding with the Pan American Games . The contingent will depart Tuesday and will be led by Mohawk Olympian Waneek Horn Miller. It will also include Truth and Reconciliation commissioners Marie Wilson and Chief Wilton Littlechild.
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