A community rethinking celebrations to honor indigenous peoples on Canada Day

Many communities are rethinking the celebration ofCanada Dayand commendingindigenous people. Former housing school.

"Being a Canadian tackles these very difficult things," said Sean Carleton, an assistant professor of history and indigenous studies at the University of Manitoba. ..

"Being Canadian at this point means reflecting on the history of colonialism and housing schools as a way to establish new, better, stronger relationships that move forward.

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Coast-to-coast organizers are trying to strike a balance between celebrating Canada's pride and thinking about difficult history with the indigenous people.

Collective sadness as there may have been a tomb in the former location of Kamloops Indian Residential School last year Some events were silenced in. British Columbia. Since then, more potential tombs have been discovered nationwide.

On Canada Day last year in Winnipeg, thousands of people pay tribute to the survivors of a housing school at a demonstration where the statues of Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth collapsed on the premises. I wore orange clothes and went out to the streets. Of the Manitoba State Assembly.

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This year, the organizers of the big Canadian Day celebration in Forks, an important place for indigenous peoples in downtown Winnipeg, renamed the event "New Day". An event to reflect not only on the celebration that we promised to cancel the fireworks.

Although this decision is controversial locally, Carlton praised the organizers for hearing what the city's indigenous people requested.

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. Canada Day was created in 1982 as an alternative to Dominion Day. Dominion Day celebrates the connection between the Commonwealth and Canada's British Empire and Empire Projects.

Carlton said national holidays are an opportunity to continually define who you want to be as a Canadian and don't have to be static.

In planning Saskatoon, Shadowari, Project Director of Canada Day, began by reviewing the Truth Commission's recommendations and consulting with indigenous partners. He was encouraged to use the holidays as an opportunity to educate people about the true history of the country.

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Raising awareness of fraud will help Canada build the country it should be, Ali said. Added.

"I want to be a country where it remains strong and free, a country we want to be vigilant about," Ali said in tears. "That's where I chose to make my life as an immigrant."

Vancouver organizers renamed the event to "Canada Together" and "weave the structure of the country." We adopted the theme. The intention of the day is to get together, celebrate, learn and share.

The 36th annual event at Canada Place in the Port of Vancouver will include indigenous programming in the past This year, the organizer worked with representatives from the Musqueam, Squamish, and Trail Warts countries to create the event for the day at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority's Community Relations and Event Manager. One Gillian Benke said.

Read more: Kamloops abolishes Canadian Day fireworks over wildfire concerns

"Local Countries. They said, "Yes, I see this as an event to move forward, but the intentions are different."

The organizers have promised to work with First Nations in the upcoming Canada Day plans.

Halifax will also host a redesigned event developed in collaboration with the indigenous community. The aim is to respect the traditions of the Mi'kmaq nation and celebrate the indigenous communities, said Cheryl Copage-Gehue, City's Indigenous Community Engagement Advisor.

Last year, the event was canceled and residents I was encouraged to spend my time looking back.

Sipekne'katik First Nation's Mi'kmaq, Copage-Gehue, this year's event is an opportunity to interact with peace , Friendship_The true intent of the original treaty.

"It's an opportunity to learn from our collective tragic past, and how we move forward together and better for the indigenous and settler communities to live together. Can it be a place? "

Read more: 'The story was hidden': The grave of a housing school in 2021 How he shocked and shaped Canada

Lisa Howell, a professor at Otawa University and one of the organizers of the Reimagine Canada Day project, said Colonialism and Housing Schools. Education should be included in the Canada Day event.

This project was developed by educators and indigenous members after discovering the potential of tombs and offers a self-guided tour around Ottawa to learn about the history of the country.

"Colonialism is a thing of our past, and there is a myth among Canadians that its myth prevents us from understanding the ongoing inequality and injustice." She said.

Howell said people can be proud to be Canadian. But they must also recognize that building better and more equitable relationships with indigenous peoples, Inuit and Metis people is part of their identity.

— Using files from Dirk Meissner, Victoria

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