Indigenous leader calls for 'friendship and peace' ahead of Cornwallis protest

Indigenous leaders in Nova Scotia are calling for co-operation, not confrontation as protesters prepare to topple the Edward Cornwallis statue in downtown Halifax this weekend.

The Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq Chiefs and the executive director of the Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre have joined Halifax Mayor Mike Savage in cautioning protestors about the consequences of forcibly removing the statue.

The mayor saidan expert panel to consider what to do with the contentious landmark will be convened by September, but that's not fast enough for the organizer of the protest.

• Mayor cautions against protesters' plans to tear down Cornwallis statue

Suzanne Patles, who created the Facebook event Removing Cornwallis, said if the city doesn't promise to remove the statue by Natal Day, protesters will do it themselves on Saturday.

Chiefs working with the city

Cornwallis was a British military officer who foundedHalifax in 1749, the same year he offereda bounty to anyone who killed a Mi'kmaw person.

Chief Deborah Robinson of the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi'kmaqChiefssaid she understands why people want the statue removed.

"But, we want community members to know that we have discussed the removal of the Cornwallis name and statue with Mayor Savage and will continue to push for this," said Robinson in a statement.

"There is a process to engage with one another, and while this may take time, it does not mean that work is not being done."

For Pam Glode-Desrochers, the executive director of the Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre, the statue and the debate around it can be used to teach people about the dark history of Halifax.

"I worry sometimes that by removing everything people forget, and I don't want people to forget what has happened. I want people to ensure it doesn't happen again," said Glode-Desrochers.

She added that there needs to be more recognition of Mi'kmaqhistory and culture alongside the landmarks that already exist.

Glode-Desrochershopes Saturday's protest is peaceful, and achance for real dialogue among Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.

"We talk about the treaty, friendship and peace. To me, that's really what we need to be focused on. It's not tearing things down. It's not trying to hurt each other," said Glode-Desrochers.

In April, rookie Coun. Shawn Cleary asked Halifax councilto reconsider using Cornwallis's name after a similar effort failedin 2016.

That process is now underway, he said, even if it's slow.

"Enough is being donein the sense that we're moving down this road. I don't think it's fast enough, no. I wish we could move faster," said Cleary.

Cleary said given what happened on Canada Day, when five members of agroup called theProud Boysinterrupted an Indigenous ceremony, he's not surprised the debate over Cornwallis has re-ignited.

Patles, the organizer of the event, said that's why it's important to take the statue down.

"Right now a lot of these white-supremist groups are using principles that Cornwallis used as tools ofhatred towards the Indigenous people," shetold CBC's Maritime Noon.

Police keeping an eye on protest

A spokesperson for Halifax Regional Police said they're aware of the planned protest and they'll be monitoring it.

As for whether the statue will be allowed to come down, Savage told CBC News the statue is public property and there are laws in place to protect it.

Theafternoon event on Saturdaywill includemusic and speakers, said Patles, but shewouldn't comment on how protesters planto remove the statue.

"People are trying to paint this as a violent event that is going to happen, that a riot is going to ensue in the city. People need to come out and see what exactly is going to happen," she said.

• Edward Cornwallis naming motion narrowly defeated at Halifax council