Tootoo wants Langevin Block renamed
Ottawa building named after residential school architect, houses Prime Minister's Office
Shane Magee
Northern News Services
Monday, February 20, 2017
OTTAWA
Nunavut MP Hunter Tootoo is among those calling on the federal government to strip the name of a residential school system architect from a prominent Ottawa office building.
Nunavut MP Hunter Tootoo at a news conference Feb. 16 called on the federal government to strip the name of a residential school system proponent from an Ottawa building housing the Prime Minister's Office. He was joined by MP Don Rusnak, left, chairperson of the Liberal Indigenous Caucus, Liberal MP Robert Falcon-Ouellette and NDP MP Romeo Saganash. - photo courtesy of Hunter Tootoo's office
The Langevin Block in Ottawa across the street from Parliament Hill is named after Hector-Louis Langevin who proposed residential schools as a way to assimilate indigenous peoples. - photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons/Jeangagnon |
Tootoo and other indigenous MPs sent a letter to Judy Foote, the minister of Public Services and Procurement Canada, calling on her to "correct an injustice" by renaming the Langevin Block, which houses the Prime Minister's Office. The office, named after Hector-Louis Langevin, is across the street from Parliament Hill.
Langevin is considered a Father of Confederation and an architect of the Indian Residential School system, as outlined in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's final report. Langevin saw the schools as a way to assimilate indigenous peoples.
"That system has had devastating impacts on the lives of thousands of indigenous people across the country," Tootoo said in an interview Feb. 16, after a news conference with Liberal and NDP MPs. "I think the consequences of the decision to move toward that (system) are some of the root causes behind what a lot of Inuit and indigenous people across the country are still grappling with today."
Tootoo said the renaming should be undertaken in the spirit of reconciliation as a small but symbolic step that could be done fairly quickly and easily to show the government and Crown are serious about the commitments made to indigenous people.
Tootoo, who attended a residential school, said the request isn't about re-writing history but writing a more inclusive version of history.
He hasn't put forward a specific alternative but said he believes it should be named after some of the first people of the country.
The move to strip the Langevin name from the building is supported by the Assembly of First Nations, Congress of Aboriginal Peoples National Chief Robert Bertrand, and the Native Women's Association of Canada, according to a news release from Tootoo.
"This type of action, that puts history in its rightful place and urges Canadians not to celebrate those who created systems that killed thousands of indigenous children, is something that we have to think about," stated Natan Obed, president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami.
The Prime Minister's Office forwarded a request for comment to the public services department, which manages federal property. Foote's office sent a statement that affirmed the government's commitment to implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission calls to action.
"Any decision (on the name of the building) will be made in full partnership with indigenous peoples," stated Jessica Turner, a spokesperson for the minister.
