I didn’t see it posted so I thought I should.

I’m Indigenous, full blooded Ojibway/Cree from northern Ontario. Both my parents survived the residential school system in the 50s and I attended the last vestiges of Christianized schooling when I was growing up. We saw a lot of discrimination against us in my family and we were always made to feel less than every other Canadian we ever knew.

Even with all that … my dad always enjoyed celebrating this holiday because he just thought it was fun and a good time to celebrate with family and friends. Maybe he just didn’t know but whenever this time of year comes around, all I can think of is how much he enjoyed just having a bit of fun today in the middle of summer.

In my own experience, I’ve travelled the world to 34 countries so I got see and compare how our country compares to the rest of the world. With all its shortcomings and blemishes … this is still a great country and a prime example of decent democracy. It isn’t perfect and it is very problematic and unequal in many ways … but its on the top of the pile of mostly or more democratic places on the planet. I may be wrong on that but that is just my opinion.

So with all that said … to all my Native, non-Native, nation born, immigrant, brown, white, black, and every shade in between …

Happy Canada Day to all of you.

  • pbjamm@beehaw.orgEnglish
    9·
    6 months ago

    Happy Canada Day. Though I claimed my citizenship 9yrs ago, this is my first living here.

    Poutine, butter tarts and caesars for all!

      • IninewCrowOPEnglish
        3·
        6 months ago

        @[email protected] and if you ever want to go full Native Canadian … go camping, take a day picking wild berries, make some bannock on a roasting stick over a fire, boil your berries in some water with a bit of sugar or honey … dip your roasted bannock in with the wild berry jam straight from the pot and have a wild dessert while admiring this beautiful wild country … while you’re at it, boil some water, make some strong tea, skim the dead mosquitoes from your drink with your finger and enjoy a hot beverage with your bannock

        • pbjamm@beehaw.orgEnglish
          2·
          6 months ago

          Sounds wonderful, and living in Comox Valley all easily accessible. Heck I can pick wild berries and cook bannock in my back yard.

          I will never be a native in either sense of the word, but I do love this place. Its beauty blows my mind nearly every day.