Reconciliation and Canada 150

Date

On July 1st this year, the country of Canada marks 150 years since Confederation. For many, Canada Day is an opportunity to celebrate being Canadian and all that means for them. For others, it ignores the truth of colonialism and erases the 15,000 years of Indigenous history on this continent. 

Michif artist Christi Belcourt, Cree activist and advocate Tanya Kappo, Métis Elder and author Maria Campbell and Anishinaabe traditional teacher and storyteller Isaac Murdoch have started @Resistance150: a social media space intended to highlight examples of history, of resistance, resilience and resurgence. It has featured prominent Indigenous artists, activists and thinkers as guest hosts, sharing a variety of content. 

Learn more in this CBC article: #Resistance150: Christi Belcourt on Indigenous history, resilience and resurgence

And also this CBC article: What does Canada 150 mean for Indigenous communities?

The City of Vancouver is doing something different for Canada 150. With guidance and support from the Urban Aboriginal Peoples Advisory Committee and the city’s three Host Nations, the City is organizing an event focused on celebrating Indigenous and cross-cultural art, traditions and more. According to an article in Mcleans, “Canada 150+ launches in English Bay in mid-July with a traditional canoe welcome, followed by a nine-day arts festival in Vancouver’s downtown. Nightly headliners include acts like Cree icon Buffy Sainte-Marie, but the focus is the history and culture of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh, the three Coast Salish nations on whose unceded territories Vancouver is built.” 

For more information, visit www.canada150plus.ca 

Canada 150 is an opportunity to learn more about the history of Canada and Indigenous Peoples and engage in a deeper conversation, one that is called for by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Consider enrolling in the San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Online Training Program. This is a unique, facilitated online training program designed to increase knowledge, enhance self-awareness, and strengthen the skills of those who work directly and indirectly with Indigenous people. This training is available free to all Northern Health staff! If you have taken one of the core trainings, consider enrolling in one of the post-training courses available. 

Think about what Canada 150 means to you!