by Daniel N. Paul, CM, ONS, Mi’kmaw Elder & Historian

On May 10, 2019, Janet Kitz, the widow of the first Jewish Mayor of Halifax and a gifted author, a lady whom I had a great deal of respect for passed away. She was very instrumental in helping to get my book, We Were Not the Savages, published. The following is a tribute I wrote in remembrance of her vital assistance.

Janet Kitz and We Were Not the Savages

Janet Kitz was a friend of long standing. I first became acquainted with her in the 1980s when I was invited to their home by her husband, the late Leonard Kitz, to savour some of their hand grown produce and for a good chat about various issues, including the Donald Marshall Jr. wrongful conviction Report.

During the visit I presented them with a copy of a booklet I had written entitled “The Confrontation of Micmac and European Civilizations”. Shortly after our get together, after reading it, Janet contacted me and invited me to lunch.

Not being one to beat around the bush when she had something to get off her mind she came right to the point and asked “had I ever considered writing a book about the hidden history of the historical racist mistreatment of Nova Scotia’s Mi’kmaq, which I had touched upon in the booklet?” I responded that it had crossed my mind from time to time, however, in view of the racist situation that was still quite prevalent at the time in the Province I thought it would be very difficult to find a publisher to publish it.

Without a moments hesitatio ...