Today is Canada Day. A day normally celebrated with parades, fireworks and outdoor fun. But this year it’s different. And it’s not about the pandemic. In my Canada Day reflection, I consider our nation’s history and ponder the right way forward. How can we heal from the horrific discoveries of the last several months? How can we truly embrace and respect Indigenous culture? And how can we again be “the true north, strong and free”?
This post was originally published in July 2021 and updated in June 2024.
Before I go any further, let me go on record to say I love my adopted country. I am a proud Canadian and that will never change. I feel lucky to be a citizen of one of the greatest nations on earth.
But we have a dark past. A past that is only now fully coming to the forefront. It’s a past we don’t learn about in schools. A past that many would like to ignore. But we can no longer ignore it. We must no longer ignore it.
Over the last weeks and months, I’ve watched with horror as mass graves have been found on the sites of our former residential schools. I have shed tears for the thousands upon thousands of Indigenous children who were taken from their homes. Many never made it home.
The residential school system
In the ultimate act of intolerance and discrimination, the misguided leaders of our country at the time felt this was necessary to set up a residential school system to assimilate Indigenous children to “our” way of life.
In order to educate the children properly we must separate them from their families. Some people may say this is hard, but if we want to civilize them we must do that.
Hector Langevin, Secretary of State For the Provinces, 1883
The goal was to obliterate native cultures and languages. To assimilate our Indigenous people. To make them just like “us”.
Discrimination at its worst
We’ve heard a lot about discrimination lately. Canada’s treatment of the Indigenous people is the ultimate act of discrimination. Here are some startling facts you may not know.
- Prior to 1951, aboriginal practices and ceremonies were prohibited.
- Until 1961, Status Indians could not vote without giving up their status.
- Before the Constitution Act of 1982, the “Indian, Inuit and Metis people” had no constitutional rights.
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It’s not ancient history
And this isn’t all ancient history. Many of these atrocities happened in my lifetime. The residential school system existed in Canada for over 150 years. For over 150 years, Indigenous children were taken from their homes and families, forbidden from speaking their language and practising their culture. They were physically and sexually abused and, as we’re finding out now, many of them were murdered.
In his book, album and animated film The Secret Path, the late, great Gord Downie told us the story of Chanie Wenjack. Chanie died of starvation and exposure trying to walk home after escaping from a residential school in Kenora, Ontario. This happened in 1966. Chanie was just 10 years older than me.
Sadly, there are thousands of others like Chanie. The remains of the 215 indigenous children found on the site of the former Indian Residential School in Kamloops, British Columbia in late May are but the tip of a very large iceberg. With last week’s discovery of 751 unmarked graves at the Marieval Residential School in Saskatchewan, we are beginning to realize how evil and deadly that iceberg is.
A day of reflection
It seems fitting that there are no large celebrations this Canada Day. We can’t erase history, but we must learn from it and make sure it’s never repeated. I call on all Canadians to use this day to reflect on our past and how we can build a better future for everyone in our nation, including the Indigenous peoples who first walked on this land.
Maybe then, we’ll be able to find peace and healing as a nation. Peace for the thousands of Indigenous children who never made it home.
Maybe then, we’ll be able to again call Canada “the true north strong and free”.
To become a country, and truly call ourselves Canada, it means we must become one. We must walk down a path of reconciliation from now on. Together, and forever.
Gord Downie
Let’s make it happen. For them. Every child matters.
If you want to learn more about the legacy of Canada’s residential school system, visit the University of Manitoba’s National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation website.
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Thanks for shedding light on this important issue. But as I read this, I felt both sad and not surprised. I mean this kind of thing is not surprising. It’s happened in many other countries as well. For example, the Japanese conquered & invaded Korea and then forced the Koreans to assimilate to Japanese culture and learn the Japanese language. My own grandmother was in Korea then when she was forced to assimilate. And then in America the white European colonists drove the Native Americans (the people who were here FIRST) back , or enslaved them, or forced them to assimilate to the European ways.
It’s awful that that happened in Canada — and especially to children. The taking the children away from their families is just so cruel and inhumane. But even that was still happening here in America — with the government deporting parents back to their native countries, being forced to leave their children behind in America. It’s just awful 🙁 Humans have done a lot of bad things through out history.
It is heartbreaking to think of children being taken away from their families and forbidden to practice their culture or speak their language. You’re right, though, it has happened in so many countries throughout history. The worst part is, we never seem to learn. I hope that now this is all out in the open, we can heal and move forward but that will take a lot of tolerance and acceptance on the part of all Canadians. Sadly, I think it will be a rough road ahead.
Yes, me too. By the way, you said that Canada is your adopted country. Did you move to Canada? From what country?
Yes, I moved to Canada from England when I was 9 years old.
That’s cool. Was it a tremendous culture shock to move from England to Canada? But considering your young age, I imagine you were able to assimilate pretty quickly to the local customs and culture.
It wasn’t too bad for me. I was young enough that I just looked at it as a big adventure. The worst part was when the kids at school told me I talked funny. If I had been a few years older, they would have thought my accent was cool.
It was more difficult for my sisters who were 12 and 15 at the time. For them, especially the 15-year-old, it was a huge disruption in their lives.
What can one say? It’s such a horrific, tragic, unimaginable truth. Thank you for paying tribute to these innocent children while calling out the ignorance and intolerance that existed and still exists in every country and culture. Prayers for all.
It is horrible. I just hope we can get to some peace and reconciliation now the truth is coming out.
Thank you for educating us! I had no idea, but every country has it’s secrets and dark days. Until people bring them to light, we cannot entirely heal and support each other. Good work!
Thanks Mandy. I hope and pray some good will come out of this horrible situation.
Thank you for bringing light to this. I don’t listen to the news as often anymore since it can be so depressing, so I hadn’t heard about this. Horrific. That’s all that can be said.
It is horrific. I just hope we can learn from it and somehow find peace.
Oh, those poor children. I can’t imagine what they went through. And quite recent, too.
I don’t understand the mentality of those who think their culture, race etc. is more superior to everyone else’s. They’re like Daleks.
I know Rachel. It is so sad and evil. There is so much about Indigenous beliefs and culture that is beautiful. We can learn a lot from the way of life our ancestors worked so hard to take away from them. Sadly, I think there will be more gruesome discoveries in the weeks and months to come. We have a lot of healing to do as a nation and I fear some difficult times ahead.
Heartbreaking. Now is the time for reconciliation, for education and discussion toward relationships and renewal. Thank you for sharing.
“Education is our sustainment into our future” words by Penny Smoke, Student, First Nations University of Canada in Regina. YouTube : The 8th Fire – Part 4.
It is so sad. Today, I started the Indigenous Canada course. It’s a University of Alberta course that anyone can access for free on Coursera.
There is so much we can learn about respect for nature and all peoples from the Indigenous people. It’s so wrong that the goal of our ancestors who settled this land was to obliterate their culture.
This was an informative an eye opening post. I think it is great that you are helping to spread awareness.
Thanks Suzanne. These stories are so heartbreaking. I feel like I can’t do much but my blog gives me a voice to increase awareness.
Thank you for this poignant and eye opening history lesson!
Thanks Kat. It’s so sad but I hope increased awareness will result in healing so those children can rest in peace.
It is DEEPLY sad news. Sad and horrific for the children and families that were torn apart. Sad and tragic for all of us that a much more respectful, collaborative, sustainable way of living here on planet earth was so utterly disrespected and destroyed. As the song “Where Have All The Flowers Gone?” asks, “When will we ever learn…when will we ever learn?” Deep breath in. And deep breath out. A profound and reflective Canada Day to you!
Thanks Will. I pray that something positive will come out of all this. You’re right that we can learn so much about how to treat the Earth and each other from the Indigenous peoples. We just need to be open to it!
Michelle, thank you for shedding light on this. You’ve written a poignant post with such grace and compassion. I’ve been trying to reconcile my pride for being born and raised Canadian but also shame for our countries dark history. You’re right, we can only move forward. Education, compassion and acknowledgment will help us all heal in time hopefully. 🇨🇦
It is difficult. I read a really powerful post on Facebook last right written by an Indigenous person. Here’s an excerpt.
“Bow your head in sadness, not shame. You didn’t write the laws that made these places. You didn’t run the churches that made these decisions. Your (mine too) government did. Old dead prime ministers did. Old dead popes, priests preachers and nuns did.”
We can learn so much about respect for land, and each other, from the Indigenous. I pray that the recent discoveries will be a step forward towards healing the divisions and past hurts.