Cancelling Canada Day? Consider doing this to support Indigenous communities

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This article was published 28/06/2021 (1277 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

With recent discoveries of more than 1,000 unmarked graves and the remains of hundreds of children at former residential school sites, many have pledged to turn away from Canada Day celebrations, and are instead making time to honour and support Indigenous communities.

Tanya Bruce, who runs the Instagram account, @Settle_in_Settlers said one thing Canadians can do right now and on July 1 is consider what it means to have this shared history.

“What does it mean to be from a country founded on violence against children,” she asks.

Bruce grew up in Brandon, Man., which had a residential school where 104 graves were recently discovered. “For me there is nothing theoretical or historical about residential schools,” she tells the Star.

This July 1, Bruce suggests settlers talk to neighbours to educate one another about Indigenous issues, attend Indigenous-led events like the Every Child Matters Walk and give money to funds aimed directly at helping Indigenous people — charity receipt or not.

The Star has compiled a list of July 1 alternatives.

Idle No More

When: July 1, 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Idle No More #CancelCanadaDay rallies are happening on “any traditional Indigenous territory, urban or rural, from coast to coast to coast,” the organization’s website says.

In Toronto, the rally will take place at Yonge-Dundas Square from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., with Elders, drummers, jingle dancers and speakers in attendance. A round dance and candlelit vigil for the children will take place.

COVID-19 safety protocols are in effect. Attendees are asked to wear an orange shirt, and bring a candle and a pair of children’s moccasins or slippers for the memorial.

A full list of Idle No More actions can be found here.

Every Child Matters Walk

When: July 1, beginning at 10 a.m. sharp

Hosted by the Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural centre.

The walk honouring the Indigenous children found in unmarked graves at former residential school sites will begin at 439 Dundas Street East and head west to Yonge Street and Dundas Street West where there will be a round-dance. The walk will continue to Nathan Phillips Square and the future site of the Spirit Garden.

Organizers say the event is not a rally or demonstration, and are asking attendees to wear a mask and maintain social distance. You can register for free on Eventbrite.

Ottawa #CancelCanadaDay march

When: July 1, beginning at 11:30 a.m.

The Anishnabe-led march will begin at the Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada building at 10 Rue Wellington, Gatineau, QC, and end at Parliament Hill.

Organizers are asking supporters to bring drums, banners, noisemakers and to prepare for all types of weather.

Celebrate Resistance Not Genocide

When: July 1, 6 p.m.

Where: Elmcreek Park, Malton, Ont.

There will be a community event and barbecue to honour Indigenous children and shared struggles of resistance hosted at Elmcreek Park, which is located behind the Malton Community Centre.

Non-trivial Trivia: Decolonizing Canada

Non-trivial Trivia is an initiative started by Michael Young in Winnipeg as a better way to educate himself as an ally. Unlike other trivia, attendees to the event are given five minutes to research the question and come up with the correct answer.

“When you look it up yourself, you learn it — a lot more than someone telling it to you,” he said. “That breaks with the apathy.”

Young said the source material will be provided to attendees in advance. He will be leading a discussion about the answers throughout the event.

Non-trivial Trivia will run from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. EST. You can register for this free event, hosted online, on Eventbrite.

Teach-in: Legal Pluralism on Stolen Land

A 90-minute virtual teach-in is being organized by Leah and Olivia Horzempa of Sister Circle Consulting. They will be leading a discussion on Indigenous jurisdictions and what it means “to be ‘Canadian’ in the context of ongoing genocide and displacement of the First Peoples, in the era of ‘reconciliation,’ ” according to the listing on Eventbrite.

Participants can ask questions during the event and are encouraged to make an e-transfer donation upon registration. Fifty per cent of the proceeds will be donated to the 1492 Land Back Lane legal fund.

Learn about the territory you’re in with the Native Land app

Native-land.ca is an app created in 2018 that has an interactive map where users can explore the traditional nations and languages, as well as the treaty agreements that govern occupied areas of North America.

Read the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report

While it’s a big read, since the Truth and Reconciliation Commission concluded, the reports and calls to action are a road map to better relations and healing between settlers, governments and Indigenous survivors of residential schools.

There are thousands of pages between the initial reports and calls to action published in 2015, and reports published since, but reading the survivors’ testimonials or the calls to action are a way to continue the conversation.

Read a book by an Indigenous author:

If you’re looking for a place to purchase, try an Indigenous-owned bookstore like GoodMinds.com based in Brantford, Ont. or Massy Books in Vancouver — both ship Canada-wide. Some titles to get you started are:

All Our Relations: Indigenous Trauma in the Shadow of Colonialism by Tanya Talaga

My Conversations with Canadians by Lee Maracle

Five Little Indians by Michelle Good

In My Own Moccasins: A Memoir of Resilience by Helen Knott

A History of My Brief Body by Billy-Ray Belcourt

A Mind Spread Out on the Ground by Alicia Elliott

day/break by Gwen Benaway

Young readers

The Barren Grounds by David A. Robertson

If I Go Missing by Brianna Jonnie with Nahanni Shingoose, Illustrated by Neal Shannacappo

This Place: 150 Years Retold

Treaty Words For As Long As the Rivers Flow by Aimée Craft illustrated by Luke Swinson

Support Indigenous Organizations

Consider raising money for an organization that serves Indigenous communities. Some local ones are:

Anishnawbe Health Toronto

Native Women’s Resource Centre

Native Men’s Residence

Indspire

First Nations Child and Family Caring Society

Native Women’s Association of Canada

Legacy of Hope Foundation

The Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line is available 24-hours a day for anyone experiencing pain or distress as a result of a residential school experience. Support is available at 1-866-925-4419.

Angelyn Francis is a Toronto-based reporter for the Star covering equity and inequality. Reach her via email: afrancis@thestar.ca

Jenna Moon is a breaking news reporter for the Star and is based in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @_jennamoon