Vandalism found on reconciliation signage in front of Queen Victoria statue again

Vandalism was once again found on the educational plaques in front of the Queen Victoria statue in Kitchener's Victoria Park.

The signs were put up last in the fall of 2021 and acknowledge the harms of colonialism. 

“I'm not surprised, it's never surprising,” said Amy Smoke, co-founder of Land Back Camp. “Many folks in our community are aware that anti-Indigenous violence has been ramping up the region, so it's never a surprise.”

Consultations on the future of the statue were paused after one virtual Q&A and one in-person witnessing circle. 

“Keeping the statue up while they stall on these performative consulting, and we're listening to the community is causing more harm,” Smoke said. “It is all very performative to hire a consultant, and now that they've concluded their work, they're going to stall the conversations. It's going to keep happening, the harm is going to keep happening.”

Smoke added that the consultations have contributed to the harm.

“Continuing to leave the statue there and stalling on these conversations continues to leave us in vulnerable situations,” they said.

Smoke says the Indigenous community continues to reach out to the City of Kitchener and is asking for action now as opposed to reactions.

In a statement, a City of Kitchener spokesperson said the city was aware of the vandalism which it cleaned.

“The City works to quickly remove any graffiti from signage at the base of the Queen Victoria statue. The signs are a public acknowledgement of the colonial systems that have caused cultural harm on First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples,” the statement read. 

As for now, the future of the statue remains unclear. It's also unknown when public consultations might resume. 

“For me, as a visibly Indigenous person walking through the park, walking near that statue, I am going to feel uncomfortable,” Smoke said. “Very, very uncomfortable under that colonial gaze.”