An all-out celebration of Canada Day would be sa国际传媒渄isrespectfulsa国际传媒� this year.
Thatsa国际传媒檚 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).
sa国际传媒淚 think in general Canada Day has always been a bit of a challenge sa国际传媒� and a contradiction sa国际传媒� for Indigenous people,sa国际传媒� Hall said. sa国际传媒淐anada hasnsa国际传媒檛 treated us very well, so there are mixed feelings about it.sa国际传媒�
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.
sa国际传媒淚 donsa国际传媒檛 think we should be calling them sa国际传媒榮choolssa国际传媒� at all,sa国际传媒� Hall said. sa国际传媒淎t best they were child labour camps, and at worst they were death camps.sa国际传媒�
The UFV associate professor acknowledged thatsa国际传媒檚 sa国际传媒渟trong languagesa国际传媒� to describe the government-sanctioned, church-run institutions sa国际传媒渂ut the very least we can do for the survivors of this genocide is to start speaking the truth.sa国际传媒�
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.
sa国际传媒淲e have always known about the lost children. That is where the paradigm shift is taking place, now that Canadians have concrete evidence.sa国际传媒�
Her auntie told her they shouldnsa国际传媒檛 be thinking about the unmarked graves as a sa国际传媒榙iscoverysa国际传媒� but as a sa国际传媒榬ecoverysa国际传媒� instead.
Flags were lowered to half mast across Canada when the news came out.
sa国际传媒淭hat was respectful. It showed we are mourning and that we are hearing the truth.sa国际传媒�
Itsa国际传媒檚 beyond sad it had to come to this point.
sa国际传媒淲e are all humans. We can relate to that terrible loss, and recovery of these children. So many Canadians are mourning with us too,sa国际传媒� 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 sa国际传媒渞edress the legacy of residential schools and advance the process of Canadian reconciliation.sa国际传媒�
They could lower their Canadian flags to half mast, and while theysa国际传媒檙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.
sa国际传媒淲e could celebrate Indigenous people instead,sa国际传媒� Hall said, adding itsa国际传媒檚 a good time to raise levels of awareness, education and social justice.
sa国际传媒淚f we are sincere about reconciliation, Canadians need to take the time to learn what it is that we are trying to reconcile.sa国际传媒�
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