City reviews Indigenous portrayal at re-enactment

The city says it is studying how to enhance Indigenous representation at future Battle of Stoney Creek re-enactments as part of a review following this year’s controversial threat to permanently cancel the June commemoration.

Spokesperson Michelle Shantz said a September inaugural meeting of a joint committee made up of staff and community re-enactment representatives discussed the issue, but planning is still in the early stages.

“Best practices regarding representation at other re-enactment events are being compiled by staff,” Shantz said in an email response to a Hamilton Community News inquiry. “Recommendations to the committee to inform planning for the 2023 event will be forthcoming.”

Coun. Russ Powers pushed for the review as part of a unanimous June council motion directing staff to reinstate the popular re-enactment of the 1813 battle following a three-year hiatus due to COVID-19. The motion reversed an initial decision to scrap the re-enactment, reportedly derided by a senior manager as a “football game” and “spectacle” at a meeting with re-enactors and volunteers back in May.

Powers said the review is needed because Indigenous nations have not been given the recognition they deserve for their crucial role in the War of 1812 against the United States.

He said Indigenous input on how to tell their story is key.

“In my opinion, it’s not right to put our interpretation of Indigenous involvement in something,” Powers said, adding the re-enactment has fallen well short on that count. “Indigenous involvement was portrayed by white people who basically took on a skin tone and what was perceived to be the apparel of the day.”

Powers said he doesn’t believe re-enactors intentionally misrepresented Indigenous people.

He said the review must also address similarly inauthentic representation in the re-enactment’s food and vendor areas, where “knock-offs” were sold.

Shantz said Battlefield Park’s successful Soaring Spirit Pow Wow in June had programing elements that will be incorporated in future city events, including the Apple Festival at the park on Oct. 8. The festival will include lacrosse demonstrations by Haudenosaunee athletes and flint knapping — or the making of stone tools — by Marvin Laidman.

“We recognize that cultural appropriation is an important issue that must be addressed in order to improve the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in our community,” said Shelly Hill, the city’s manager of Indigenous relations.