Indigenous activists across the country are calling for the cancellation of Canada Day for a second year. They say there is “no pride” in celebrating July 1, as more unmarked graves have been found near boarding schools in recent months.
On Canada Day, people should “feel guilty rather than wave flags,” says Nakuset, executive director of the Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal. She points to systemic racism affecting Indigenous peoples, in addition to potential discoveries of children’s remains near residential schools that continue this year. “It’s very difficult,” she breathes.
Last March, the Kapawe’no First Nation community in northern Alberta revealed the possible discovery of 169 unmarked graves near a former federal residential school.
Events organized by Indigenous groups will therefore be held on Friday, in the wake of the #CancelCanadaDay movement, which first emerged in 2021 after the discovery of unmarked graves near residential schools. Several activities to commemorate missing Aboriginal children will take place across the country, including in Edmonton, Winnipeg, and Saskatoon.
The work “has not yet begun”
On July 1st, thousands of people marched in the streets of Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg and Vancouver. The orange sweater, worn in tribute to child victims of residential schools, was in the spotlight. “ We needed to come together to express our pain,” says Nakuset, who organized the Montreal event.
A week before Canada Day, the Cowessess First Nation revealed the detection of 751 unmarked graves by radar at the residential school site in Marieval, Saskatchewan. A month earlier, the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc nation announced that they had detected the possible remains of 215 children in unmarked graves at the Kamloops boarding school. Some cities, notably in New Brunswick, had canceled their festivities in the wake of these discoveries.
A year later, Nakuset bemoans the general public’s silence on Indigenous issues. “It’s as if this year, for Canada Day, we should forget and move on,” she laments. But the work has not even started. Questions remain about the circumstances surrounding these unmarked graves, she argues. According to her, the testimonies of those involved must be heard.
There are still several residential school sites to be excavated, says Janis Qavavauq-Bibeau, research coordinator for the Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal. The young Inuk therefore believes that “there is no pride in celebrating Canada Day”. Being Canadian also means recognizing “the dark side of history” and the “horror stories” of the country, she raises.
Recognize and commemorate
For Médérik Sioui, historian and consultant, July 1 could be an opportunity to raise public awareness of the realities of the country’s First Nations, Métis and Inuit. “I’m more in favor of organizing activities and events,” said the member of the Huron-Wendat Nation. Something to recognize and commemorate [les peuples autochtones]more than cancel [la fête du Canada]. »
While there is already a National Aboriginal Day, June 21, most Canadians don’t have the day off, notes Sioui. Marching and speaking out about Indigenous issues on July 1 would help raise awareness, he said. “If there is a lot of orange among the white and red [des drapeaux du Canada]that’s going to mean something, ”he raises.
But it is necessary to continue the reflection throughout the year, emphasizes Widia Larivière, founding director of Mikana, an organization that raises awareness of Aboriginal realities. “I wouldn’t want people to wear their orange shirts tomorrow and then move on,” said the Anishinaabe Nation member.
With The Canadian Press