Changing the name of Avenue Christophe-Colomb, in Montreal, because of its controversial historical character… that’s what Ray Coelho, who launched a petition, wants to accomplish.
In his spare time, since the end of June, Concordia University political science student Ray Coelho has been knocking on the doors of residents of Christophe-Colomb Avenue, hoping to motivate them to join his cause. So far, it has collected just over a hundred signatures.
This avenue, 8.5 km long, is one of the main arteries of the metropolis. Mainly residential, it begins at rue Rachel and ends at boulevard Gouin. It crosses several boroughs: Plateau-Mont-Royal, Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie, Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension and Ahuntsic-Cartierville.
Instead of the name Christophe-Colomb, introduced in 1897 by the City of Montreal, Ray Coelho suggests taking a step back and reverting to the old name: boulevard Des Ormes. He has the impression, based on discussions with the residents, that they are open to it.
In primary schools, there has long been a tendency to present Christopher Columbus as the one who “discovered America” during his first great voyage to the Antilles in 1492. This assertion is obviously disputed, since indigenous peoples already lived on this territory.
“He is responsible for slavery and exploitation, says Ray Coelho about the Genoese explorer of the XVe century, in an interview with The Press. That should be enough not to want it characterizing a street. »
Ray Coelho has walked about two kilometers up the avenue, so far. He hopes to go all the way in the next few months – and reach 1,000 signatures.
If the residents are absent when he arrives, he leaves them an information sheet in which he mentions a Yale University study on Columbus’ mistreatment of the native populations, and on the accusations of genocide which weigh on him.
“Given this and in keeping with diversity and inclusion, the legacy of Christopher Columbus is not worthy of commemoration through a public object such as a street sign. The legacy of Christopher Columbus represents a sad period in history that hurts those who suffered under colonial rule and racism,” it read.
Controversial debate
For José Del Pozo, professor of Latin American history at UQAM, the subject is both “interesting and controversial”. It is a portrait with two faces: on the one hand, the ill-treatment and the massacre, then on the other, the implantation of the Spanish language and the Catholic religion which today shape the continent.
“The assessment that we can make of Columbus is the same as other leaders of the Spanish conquest, he illustrates. He is an explorer who changed the history of the world. Convincing the King of Spain to leave for what he believed to be India was no small feat. »
At the same time, it is quite true that like all the other conquest chiefs, he behaved brutally with the natives…because the conquest chiefs were all driven by the thirst for wealth.
José Del Pozo, professor of Latin American history at UQAM
Initially cordial, relations quickly became unequal between the natives and the Spaniards. “Columbus began to establish the system of forced labor to search for gold, continues José Del Pozo. And then it started to degenerate. Then the same situation will happen again in other countries, such as Mexico, Peru, Chile. The conquest is a bloody fact. »
Himself a native of Chile, Professor Del Pozo reports that the perception of the conquistadors depends on the country. At his home in Santiago, there are many statues of Pedro de Valdivia, former governor of Chile. On the other hand, in Mexico, the most nationalists systematically refuse to honor Hernán Cortés, former governor of New Spain.
Professor Del Pozo is not necessarily in favor of a new name, but “finds it interesting because it opens up the debate. These things make people realize the weight of the past,” he thinks.
There is also an avenue named Colombus in Pointe-Claire, where Ray Coelho lives. He tried to encourage the city council to change the name a few months ago, but without success.
According to him, the municipality of Pointe-Claire could one day follow Montreal’s lead. Actions like the renaming of Amherst Street (controversial British General Amherst offered smallpox-infested blankets to Indigenous people) in 2019 or the toppling of the statue of John A. Macdonald (due to the assimilation and genocidal policies of this former Prime Minister of Canada) in 2020 lead him to believe that it is possible.