Image from Canada Day Printables
Next week millions of Canadians will celebrate Canada turning 150. I was originally going to do a big post with a whack load of Canada day links. Sorry guys, I’m just not really in the festive mood. I’ve struggled a lot with Canada Day this year, and I’m not the only one. So that’s why I decided to talk about a bit about why Canada 150 isn’t for everyone. Don’t get me wrong, I’m fiercely proud to be Canadian, and no doubt will sport red and white on July 1st. But all this celebration is a reminder that we’re celebrating 150 years of colonialism, repression, and cultural genocide.
WOAH!
Yes I’m getting intense here on a space that’s normally filled with sparkles and rainbows. As I’ve already said, I’m proud to be Canadian. I’m so glad my parents chose this country as a safe haven when fleeing dictatorship. It still provides safety for those seeking refuge, but it isn’t safe for everyone. As proud as I am to be Canadian, I’m also ashamed of our past, our current state, and how much more still needs to be done to make this country equitable and safe for everyone.
I don’t want to be some privileged white girl spewing on about matters that I can’t, by the nature of my privilege, fully comprehend. If you care to learn more (which is why I’m bringing this up to begin with) this video has a good explanation.
If you’ll be decking out head to toe in red and white, mowing down on poutine while shouting the O Canada above the roar of fireworks, go for it. Celebrate, enjoy the atmosphere and activities. Just remember this day isn’t celebratory for everyone, and we have a long way to go before it is.
Thanks so much for this post Tanya. I didn’t really think about how I was feeling until I read it. My sentiments as well. We went to a powwow in June. The Cree and Beaver people were so welcoming and gracious about us coming to learn more about their cultures. I tried to imagine how it must feel for them to meet and dance on the same ground that their ancestors have for thousands of years. It reminded me that the rest of us, no matter when our families came, are newcomers to this place. I think most of us are in Canada because a family member at some point was seeking a better life for themselves and for their future family (us!). I am grateful for that. That story is not just Canada’s history – it’s Canada’s present and future. My gratitude is for my ancestors and also for the ancestors of the indigenous people who showed our families “the way” when they arrived here. Most of them would have died without the help of the people who knew how to survive in the cold wilderness. I can only imagine how much further ahead this nation would be if we’d done more listening and learning and less preaching and oppressing! I am encouraged more than ever that we are going to keep working at it………..thanks again. <3
Well said Lois!