Happy Birthday Canada. You made it to 150. Which impresses
pretty much no one outside of Canada. And not really everyone within Canada.
The Bank of Montreal is stepping all over the country's big
day to promote its 200th birthday. It is sad and disturbing that a Canadian
bank is older than Canada.
Although it does say a lot about what this country was
founded upon.
Yet, I am not going to jump on anyone's hashtag to protest
this moment and not because no one ever jumped on one of my hashtags.
No one should tell a single
parent with three kids they can't go to the community BarBQ or the fireworks
because someone created a hashtag.
No Native artist should apologize because they are actually
getting paid to perform and share their work during a national celebration.
Leading up to Canada Day, I saw many media reports about how
Indigenous Peoples were protesting Canada 150.
A story on national news was filled with images of a Pow Wow while a disembodied voice spoke of protest.
These two things are not the same. This person speaking from
an unflattering Skype angle did not speak for the people at this Pow Wow.
It does fit into the Canadian media obsession with conflict
when it comes to the Native beat.
*
July 1, 2017 came and went with fireworks just a little bit
brighter.
In Native communities around the country the day was
celebrated.
Our people love a party and they deserve a party.
On the national stage - National Chief Perry Bellegarde in
full regalia danced with other traditional dancers to the Pow Wow drum and it
was a beautiful thing.
Buffy Sainte-Marie delivered a career defining performance
that may come to define this country.
The people who set up a TeePee on the grounds of the
Parliament buildings got to speak face to face with Justin Trudeau, the Prime
Minister of Canada. This would not happen in the United States.
Some got a chance to be heard and they dropped the mic in a
way that kept screeching feedback to be remixed and repeated.
If you have a press conference you are going to have press.
Be ready.
This is the way it is now.
This is the time of lasting memories and creating
histories..
People have to move forward together.
Do not assume lead without taking direction.
Canada has always been making itself up.
July 1 is not Canada's birthday, it's March 29.
So I wish a happy belated birthday to Canada as most of you
already did.
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