Why we can't just 'celebrate the good parts of Canada' on Canada Day

“Why can’t we just ‘celebrate’ the good parts of Canada Day?”

Canada Day, observed on July 1st, commemorates the nation’s official formation. For many, this day is an opportunity to celebrate Canada, its history, and its culture.

For others, particularly Indigenous people, it is a painful reminder of the devastation of colonization, both past and present.

It is impossible to honestly reflect on Canada’s history as a nation without acknowledging those who were harmed and continue to be harmed to create the country now known as Canada.

To become the country we live in today, Canada:

Killed millions of Indigenous Peoples through exposure to diseases and violent warfare;

Stole Indigenous lands through violence and unfair treaties and agreements;

Erased Indigenous cultures and forced assimilation to European cultures;

Destroyed family systems by forcibly removing Indigenous children and sending them to Residential Schools;

Enacted anti-Indigenous laws that denied Indigenous Peoples’ rights and sovereignty

Since establishing its nationhood, Canada has continued to harm Indigenous Peoples and communities through over-policing and over-incarceration; inadequate healthcare and resourcing in First Nations communities; ongoing land rights violations; and negligence in addressing Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW).

To ‘just celebrate the good parts of Canada’ on this day is to disregard the realities of Canada’s history. Organizations who take this approach demonstrate to their Indigenous staff, stakeholders, and service users that their experiences and realities are less important than a national holiday.

For organizations who are truly committed to being equity-informed, Canada Day is an opportunity to confront Canada’s sanitized history and acknowledge and address anti-Indigenous racism within their organization.

Here are four questions organizational leaders use to guide their reflection on Canada Day and beyond:

• How has our organization benefited from the colonization of Indigenous lands, both past and present?

• Does our organization have an equity plan that specifically addresses anti-Indigenous racism?

• As an organization on Indigenous lands, have we considered Indigenous experiences and voices in our operations?

• Is there Indigenous representation in our staff and leadership or on our Board? If not, why, and what will we do to change that?