Selin Hekimoglu/ Edge columnist
A controversial statue of John Deighton, otherwise known as Gassy Jack in Gastown, has finally been taken down by demonstrators.
Deighton was the owner of a bar in Vancouver. He is known as the founder of Gastown, according to Wikipedia. Many people are unaware of the darker side of Deighton’s history. He was married twice to First Nations women, with one of them being only 12 years old.
Members of the Missing Indigenous Women’s march gathered on Monday, February 14th to take down the statue that commemorates Deighton. They wrapped red rope around the statue and tugged until it came down.
Statues are used to appreciate people who have done memorable things. With Deighton’s past, there is no real reason to honor him. If the statue remains standing, it symbolizes that his actions are excused. If Canada is truly determined to work towards reconciliation, taking down statues of problematic people is necessary.
Deighton’s first wife, whose name is now forgotten, died from illness. Then, at age 40, Deighton married his first wife’s 12-year-old niece, Quahail-ya or Wha-halia. It is said that Quahail-ya escaped her husband at age 15. Being forced to escape from her husband shows that the marriage was done against her will.
“The participants of the march did a respectable thing by taking down that statue,” said Carmel Kiani, a grade 11 student from Heritage Woods secondary school “Someone who made poor decisions like Deighton does not deserve to be celebrated,” added Kiani.
Patricia Massy is a woman of English and Cree descent who has been attending these marches for 10 years. She says, “It’s kind of insulting that he’s just standing there, considering the legacy he has with the women of Squamish nation.”
First Nations people should not have to walk past a memorial for Deighton, knowing the harm he has caused. It would be more sensible to replace these statues with Indigenous figures, since this land first belonged to them.
Vancouver mayor Kennedy Stewart said the city of Vancouver had been working with the Squamish nation to decide how to properly remove the statue and recognize Deighton’s wrongdoings.
Stewart did not support the efforts of the protestors. He said that the actions of removing the statue undermined the process of working together with the Squamish nation in the steps of reconciliation.
The statue being taken down was a very powerful moment, and it makes most sense for Indigenous people to be the ones doing it. If anything, the slow process of trying to figure out how to simply take down a statue undermines the harmful impact of the statue still standing.
Too much time has been wasted on empty promises, which is pushing people to take more physical action. These movements show that First Nations people’s patience is running low, and hopefully it will encourage the government to start making changes.
Sources:
Vancouvers Gassy Jack statue toppled during march honouring missing Indigenous women
Indigenous activists say the story of Gassy Jack is missing sordid details
Vancouver women’s march protesters topple Gassy Jack statue
Vancouver’s Gassy Jack statue toppled, covered in red paint during Women’s Memorial March