I’ve seen a lot of discussion on monuments recently and I want to write down some of my thoughts on the Watson Monument in downtown St. Catharines and why I think it should be removed or recontextualized.

The monument is dedicated to Private Alexander Watson, a Canadian soldier that died at the Battle of Batoche during the Northwest Uprising in 1885. To better understand what the monument commemorates, and why it's problematic, let's go back to 1867.

Shortly after Confederation, the Canadian government began expanding its borders. In 1869, the Hudson’s Bay Company sold a vast expanse of territory (Rupert’s Land) to the federal government without consulting the First Nations and Métis people that lived there.

Indigenous people rightfully denied this transaction and, led by Louis Riel, established the Metis Provisional Government, beginning the "Red River Rebellion." The federal government then sent soldiers to quell dissent which essentially ended the Rebellion.

It's worth noting that the North-West Mounted Police, predecessors to the RCMP, were established in 1873 to enforce the federal government's will in the west.

Riel was exiled after the Rebellion but returned in 1885 and led the Northwest Uprising.

The causes of the Uprising are summarized by Andersen: "As they were increasingly crowded in their territories by the massive influx of immigrants from Europe, and following a litany of the Canadian government’s broken promises, bad faith, and inaction, the Métis took up arms.”

They, in the above quote, being Indigenous people.

At the beginning of the Uprising, the Métis and First Nations were victorious at Duck Lake, Fish Creek, and Cut Knife, but were eventually defeated at Batoche by federal forces, where Watson died.

The Northwest Uprising failed and Riel was executed in 1885.

So, what did Watson and other Canadians who fought during the Northwest Uprising die for? The dispossession of Indigenous people from their land and increased westward, white settler expansion.

The Watson Monument provides absolutely none of the above historical context whatsoever. Canadians need to come to terms with our racist past and remember that our country was built on exploitation, deceit, lies, theft, and genocide.

If the monument was properly contextualized, however, whether that be through plaques with more information, or removal of the monument to a museum, then maybe this monument could be an educational tool rather than a valorization of imperialism.