WISH CNY encourages you to examine the questions raised regarding the relocation of the Columbus Monument in downtown Syracuse.
• What does it mean to rethink history, warts and all?
• Can we be open to accepting a less sanitized, more detailed portrait of a revered historic icon?
• How does our community, deeply rooted in social justice, find the civic strength and collective respect for the Onondaga’s wishes to “bring our minds together,” for unity and step forward, “to honor each other’s heritage and cultures”?
Offered here is an imperfect portrait of Christopher Columbus
“Humans are complicated as is our relationship to power. The story of Columbus is a story of power; land acquisitions, precious resources, subjugation, and religion linked to the Monarchy of Spain and his agreement with them to receive 10% of all wealth acquired. The 15th Century was 600 years ago. Trustworthy sources of information aren’t as readily available as we enjoy today, nevertheless, information on Columbus is plentiful.”
Please examine the resources compiled by Donna Inglima below.
The Monument of Christoforo Corombo (aka Christoforo Colombo, aka Cristobal Colon, aka Christopher Columbus) erected in 1934 in the center of Syracuse, insults the truth, and perpetuates denials of genocide, slavery, rape, dismemberment and starvation violently forced by Corombo and his retinue on the Guanahani, Taino, and other indigenous people he encountered on his four voyages. His brutal and tyrannical governance coupled with mismanagement, resulted in his forceful removal and return to Spain in chains.
The records and diaries from three of Corombo’s four voyages, violently document the beginning of colonization in what was romantically termed the “New World”.
These actions can also be understood as an original and criminal ‘cancelling of culture’ which continues against the native people of the ‘Americas’ and around the world today. Native people are still violently oppressed and murdered for defending their native lands and their very right to exist as a People.
The members of WISH CNY embrace the truthful history of Syracuse, which is inclusive of the original people: the Haudenosaunee- specifically the Onondaga. The Haudenosaunee were also met with violence, loss of their lands and of their way of life, by colonists. Sadly, our Nation continues to perpetuate this lack of respect toward our Native People.
August 12, 2020- Onondaga Nation,
Onondaga Nation Statement on Columbus Statue in Downtown Syracuse by Tadodaho, Chief Sidney Hill
Onondaga Nation Council.
“We fully understand the wishes of the Italian American community to honor their heritage, but it is burdensome for the people of Onondaga to see Christopher Columbus memorialized with a statue. Within our lands and hearts, finding equality and peace is difficult knowing the hardships our ancestors endured as a consequence of his campaign. Our own monuments, beautiful lakes, streams, rivers, and the earth itself, has suffered greatly as a direct result principle of the Doctrine of Discovery to which Columbus used to claim the lands in the name of the Spanish crown…”