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Canada Day as seen through an Indigenous lens

含羞草研究社楥anadians need to take the time to learn what it is that we are trying to reconcile含羞草研究社 - Wenona Hall
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Wenona Hall, associate professor of Indigenous Studies at the University of the Fraser Valley, with kids. (Devon Hall photography) Wenona Hall, associate professor of Indigenous Studies at UFV, with kids. (Devon Hall photography)

An all-out celebration of Canada Day would be 含羞草研究社渄isrespectful含羞草研究社 this year.

That含羞草研究社檚 because something significant has shifted since hundreds of unmarked graves were found so far in B.C. and Saskatchewan, according to Wenona Hall, associate professor in Indigenous Studies at University of the Fraser Valley (UFV).

含羞草研究社淚 think in general Canada Day has always been a bit of a challenge 含羞草研究社 and a contradiction 含羞草研究社 for Indigenous people,含羞草研究社 Hall said. 含羞草研究社淐anada hasn含羞草研究社檛 treated us very well, so there are mixed feelings about it.含羞草研究社

With more Canadians embracing harsh truths about residential schools and how the system impacted survivors and their families over many generations, it could be time to reframe the institutions set up to destroy Indian culture.

含羞草研究社淚 don含羞草研究社檛 think we should be calling them 含羞草研究社榮chools含羞草研究社 at all,含羞草研究社 Hall said. 含羞草研究社淎t best they were child labour camps, and at worst they were death camps.含羞草研究社

The UFV associate professor acknowledged that含羞草研究社檚 含羞草研究社渟trong language含羞草研究社 to describe the government-sanctioned, church-run institutions 含羞草研究社渂ut the very least we can do for the survivors of this genocide is to start speaking the truth.含羞草研究社

The ground-penetrating radar used by local First Nations to find the unmarked graves of the 215 souls in Kamloops has led to a broader national sense of shared loss.

含羞草研究社淲e have always known about the lost children. That is where the paradigm shift is taking place, now that Canadians have concrete evidence.含羞草研究社

Her auntie told her they shouldn含羞草研究社檛 be thinking about the unmarked graves as a 含羞草研究社榙iscovery含羞草研究社 but as a 含羞草研究社榬ecovery含羞草研究社 instead.

Flags were lowered to half mast across Canada when the news came out.

含羞草研究社淭hat was respectful. It showed we are mourning and that we are hearing the truth.含羞草研究社

It含羞草研究社檚 beyond sad it had to come to this point.

含羞草研究社淲e are all humans. We can relate to that terrible loss, and recovery of these children. So many Canadians are mourning with us too,含羞草研究社 Hall added.

So instead of opting for a rah-rah celebration, Hall recommends that folks take the day on July 1 to educate themselves about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, and review the 94 Calls to Action, meant to 含羞草研究社渞edress the legacy of residential schools and advance the process of Canadian reconciliation.含羞草研究社

They could lower their Canadian flags to half mast, and while they含羞草研究社檙e at it, flying alongside the maple leaf could be the flag of the First Nation whose land the flag is on, she suggested.

Canadians could even wear their orange shirts instead of red and white on Canada Day, and do a little research to ensure they know the story behind Orange Shirt Day.

含羞草研究社淲e could celebrate Indigenous people instead,含羞草研究社 Hall said, adding it含羞草研究社檚 a good time to raise levels of awareness, education and social justice.

含羞草研究社淚f we are sincere about reconciliation, Canadians need to take the time to learn what it is that we are trying to reconcile.含羞草研究社

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Jennifer Feinberg

About the Author: Jennifer Feinberg

I have been a Chilliwack Progress reporter for 20+ years, covering city hall, Indigenous, business, and climate change stories.
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