07/01/2022
via :
For those who grew up associating positive memories with family on Canada Day, it can seem like a personal attack to be told not to celebrate this day. ⠀
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For myself, as a child of Immigrants, I grew up spending Canada Day celebrating the opportunity that was given to my family, and the opportunity I have here that I wouldn't have had in my Mother Land — especially considering our motherland was in a state of war. ⠀
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However, as people who understand the violence of 'Canadian' History, and the history of this government, this settler-colonial nation, and the Catholic Church, it is our duty to shape a better future for the next generation. ⠀
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That includes existing in solidarity of Indigenous communities, amplifying Indigenous leaders, and putting in individual efforts to gain a deeper understanding of what it means to exist on this land.
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It also means continuing to refrain from celebrating Canada Day, and instead using it as a day to participate in Indigenous organizing, demonstrations, protests, action, and holding elected government officials accountable. ⠀
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Every year, I make this post because as a settler on these lands, I believe it is my duty to understand the lands I inhabit, and be critical of what I am actually celebrating when I do. ⠀
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So I will continue to refrain from celebrating this settler-colonial nation, until action has been taken, reparations are met, and the 94 calls to action in the Truth and Reconciliation report have been achieved — and I hope you will join in doing the same. ⠀
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🧡🧡🧡⠀
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Things you can do instead:
🤎 Participate in Indigenous events that will be running across cities as a part of
🤎 Replace your red and white for orange
🤎 Have genuine conversations about what it means to be ‘Canadian’
🤎 Take any $$$ you may have spent on fireworks and patriotic colours & donate it to your local Indigenous organizations
🤎 Be in community to have these conversations amongst each other
PS- Almost 10 years into this reminder and I’m letting y’all know that anyone who comes close to saying “if you don’t like it here you can go back to where you came from” is getting an INSTANT block