The Ghettoes of Avonlea

 

Parks Canada has a new ten-year plan to revamp Green Gables to present “cultures not currently presented at the site, e.g., Acadian, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of colour) … and new narratives, perspectives and voices.”

This is an example of real cultural appropriation. Anne of Green Gables, a cornerstone of Canadian culture, is being hijacked to present instead random ethnic subcultures not relevant to the story, that do not appear in the books.

This is as offensive as if, say, the recreated Huron village at Ste.-Marie-Among-the-Hurons were staffed by interpreters dressed as Anne, and the longhouses featured tableaux from Avonlea. It is disrespectful of this aspect of our shared Canadian culture, and seems to want to detract from it. It seems to want to make it something foreign to our own experience.

Anne seems still to be shunned because of her red hair. Gingers are still discriminated against; probably more than ever.