Nunavut dedicates garden honouring Queen’s platinum jubilee
Commissioner Eva Qamaniq Aariak calls flower boxes on legislative assembly grounds ‘a living tribute’
Nunavut Commissioner Eva Qamaniq Aariak dedicates a garden to celebrate the platinum jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II on July 9. The jubilee marks the 70th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s accession and makes her the first British monarch to spend 70 years in service. The flower boxes on the grounds of the Nunavut legislative assembly in Iqaluit are filled with local wildflowers. Aariak called them “a living tribute to Her Majesty, who has reigned with dignity, respect, and caring compassion.” (Photo by Meral Jamal)
John A MacDonald, Canada’s first elected Prime Minister was, more than anyone, instrumental in making Canada a sovereign independent nation. But this man also committed the awful, terrible act of establishing and promoting residential schools. As a result, he has been banished or cancelled from our country’s history. Statues have been removed and school names have been changed. His name is no longer to be mentioned in a positive way.
As a Canadian, I’m ok with what has happened to MacDonald. He’s got what he deserved because of the residential schools. What I don’t get, is how those same people who cancelled MacDonald are in love with the Monarchy and want to continue to put up plaques to honour and celebrate representatives of the Monarchy.
The King and the Queen colonized North America! The King and the Queen subjugated indigenous people and destroyed their way of life! Why on earth does our society continue to acknowledge and honour them and their descendants!!
I’m sure Queen Elizabeth is a nice hard working lady and I’d be happy to have a cup of tea with her. But, I’m sorry, she does not represent an institution that deserves even a plaque on a flower pot in this country. We had the guts to cancel our first prime minister. We can cancel the monarchy too!! They have just as much blood on their hands as the old Chieftain ( MacDonald’s nickname). Respectfully, this flower plot plaque is a lousy idea
Imavi!
I think this flower garden is a great idea. God save our gracious Queen!
John A. MacDonald, Canada’s first prime minister, also instigator of the residential schools in Canada. On his first look at Canada; too many natives, savages so let make a brown while, so hence gather all natives to central point and create a new civilize society of the lot. Nunavut’s dark history is a founding of residential school in Chesterfield Inlet, where children as young as 4 were taken to this community, I have heard these children crying at time (too many times really) under the tables as if orphaned (which they were), so, so many and more unmarked graves reported, why? all in the name of an institution, goodness……