It is true that many acts of early Canadian governments, particularly as regarded Indigenous peoples, were, by the standards of today, appalling (and dragged on much closer to our present than many Canadians realize). The first prime minister of this country, Sir John A. Macdonald, held (and expressed) many odious views about Indigenous peoples. Macdonald’s views on Indigenous peoples are offensive. Understanding Macdonald, the good and the bad, is key to understanding modern Canada, in all its greatness and its many failures, too. Future Canadians would be better served by seeing Macdonald’s name and understanding his full legacy than they will by never seeing it outside a soon-forgotten textbook.

Source: National Post September 01, 2017 21:45 UTC