Canada Day,Bah Humbug…

My native bro- from another mother- “Canada Day is a white persons colonial holiday/celebration”.

Personally I agree,in fact I will “never” celebrate Canada Day.

That said…

The day Canada commits itself to  rebuilding its relationships with the Indigenous Peoples of this, the Northern-half of Turtle Island. I will be one of the   first waving the flag and shouting myself hoarse in support of Canada.

I like to think this is not wishful thinking on my part,after all there is a historical record of solidarity and mutual support.

Indeed if it were not for this solidarity and mutual support Canada might never have survived the expansionist efforts of America. Which arrogantly believed all of Turtle Island was by rights theirs for the taking.

Thankfully  the Indigenous Peoples-in this case the Mohawk/Iroquois Confederacy – and their settler allies prevailed during the War of 1812. Not only were the Americans sent packing,twice, the White House was burned to the ground for good measure.

‘Manifest destiny‘ was stopped dead in its northern-expansionist-tracks

And some say that Canada is somehow beholding to the U.S for our defense,indeed for our very survival as a country…like please,lol.

All said the most important factor is the longstanding activism of Indigenous Peoples themselves.  Big strides have been made in the ongoing struggle to force persuade settlers/whites  to acknowledge &  recognize Indigenous People’s rights as Peoples. Rather than them being perceived, as being,  just another hyphenated-Canadian / ethnic minority (a convenient self-serving   perception/assertion that is still ,unfortunately, widespread among settlers/whites ).

The cause is just, the struggle is righteous,this is an undeniable objective truth.

Indeed the struggle gains momentum with every generation,and seems  to be intensifying as the native population  increases.  Indigenous Peoples being the fastest growing segment* of the population,on this the Northern 1/2 of Turtle Island.

The writing is on the wall,it’s in the treaties,it’s in the very fabric & history of this land.  Justice and morality demands that we settlers reacquaint ourselves with our history and re-build/re-new our relationships with the First Peoples.

Only then will Canada be a country worthy of admiration,only then will I personally celebrate my home on native land.

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* The total Indigenous  growth rate, is 1.8% per year more than two times that of the overall Canadian growth rate. The Indigenous population is young,with a  median age of 27,compared with a median age of 40 for all of Canada.  49% of Indigenous Peoples are under  25 years of age.

The on-reserve ["registered Indian"]  is growing even faster, 2.5 % annually 40 %  being 20 years of age or younger,compared with 24%  for the overall Cnd population.

There are 615 communities[Bands],comprising more than 50 Nations.