Dear Editor,
I was thrilled last month to attend a concert at Meaford Hall. I love live music and Canadian talent, so it was with great excitement that I sat and waited for Ashley MacIsaac to take the stage.
Before the performance began, the Hall issued a Land Acknowledgement, which is now a standard practice in the arts and entertainment industry across this country. Some patrons thought it was acceptable to start “booing” at this time and didn’t stop until the acknowledgement ended. I was shocked by this behaviour and its blatant racism.
I was too shocked to respond in the moment, but thankfully, Mr. MacIsaac was not. Before he started his performance, he called out the disruption and reminded the audience that he has Indigenous ancestry. A Land Acknowledgement is a brief and basic form of respect.
To those that think “booing” such a minor act is acceptable, I ask you to educate yourself. You wouldn’t be sitting in a Hall on this land if it weren’t for treaties signed with Indigenous people by King George III. You wouldn’t even be able to call yourself a Canadian if it weren’t for these agreements made by Indigenous people and our long-departed King.
Meaford is very fortunate to have not only a wonderful public library, but also a top-notch bookstore where people can get books to help them understand treaties and Canadian history.
The librarians are knowledgeable and approachable, while Ryan Scott at The Book Hive can hunt down any book your heart desires. As a journalist that specializes in legal news, I have had a front row seat to the disintegration of human rights around the world and the over-incarceration of Indigenous people in Canada.
These are not just “trying times” we’re living in, but the unravelling of a humanity. Please reflect on that the next time you hear a Land Acknowledgement.
Regards,
Amanda Jerome, Meaford
