I didn’t see it posted so I thought I should.

I’m Indigenous, full blooded Ojibway/Cree from northern Ontario. Both my parents survived the residential school system in the 50s and I attended the last vestiges of Christianized schooling when I was growing up. We saw a lot of discrimination against us in my family and we were always made to feel less than every other Canadian we ever knew.

Even with all that … my dad always enjoyed celebrating this holiday because he just thought it was fun and a good time to celebrate with family and friends. Maybe he just didn’t know but whenever this time of year comes around, all I can think of is how much he enjoyed just having a bit of fun today in the middle of summer.

In my own experience, I’ve travelled the world to 34 countries so I got see and compare how our country compares to the rest of the world. With all its shortcomings and blemishes … this is still a great country and a prime example of decent democracy. It isn’t perfect and it is very problematic and unequal in many ways … but its on the top of the pile of mostly or more democratic places on the planet. I may be wrong on that but that is just my opinion.

So with all that said … to all my Native, non-Native, nation born, immigrant, brown, white, black, and every shade in between …

Happy Canada Day to all of you.

    • IninewCrow@lemmy.caOPEnglish
      4·
      6 months ago

      Just noticed you as the admin of this community … Happy Canada Day and thanks for the work you do here!

        • IninewCrow@lemmy.caOPEnglish
          1·
          6 months ago

          No doot aboot it eh!? … just gotta feed my pet Polar Bear before I catch the 4:30 moose train to Saskatchewan so that I can tell my friend Nantook who lives in his igloo and works for the RCMP

  • MacroCyclo@lemmy.ca
    9·
    6 months ago

    Thanks for sharing! I love this country too. It’s not perfect, but it’s closer than most places.

  • pbjamm@beehaw.orgEnglish
    9·
    6 months ago

    Happy Canada Day. Though I claimed my citizenship 9yrs ago, this is my first living here.

    Poutine, butter tarts and caesars for all!

      • IninewCrow@lemmy.caOPEnglish
        2·
        6 months ago

        @[email protected] and if you ever want to go full Native Canadian … go camping, take a day picking wild berries, make some bannock on a roasting stick over a fire, boil your berries in some water with a bit of sugar or honey … dip your roasted bannock in with the wild berry jam straight from the pot and have a wild dessert while admiring this beautiful wild country … while you’re at it, boil some water, make some strong tea, skim the dead mosquitoes from your drink with your finger and enjoy a hot beverage with your bannock

        • pbjamm@beehaw.orgEnglish
          2·
          6 months ago

          Sounds wonderful, and living in Comox Valley all easily accessible. Heck I can pick wild berries and cook bannock in my back yard.

          I will never be a native in either sense of the word, but I do love this place. Its beauty blows my mind nearly every day.

  • Anony Moose@lemmy.caEnglish
    8·
    6 months ago

    Happy Canada Day! Thank you for this beautiful post, it made me tear up a bit. I’ve made Canada my adopted home 14 years ago, and not a day goes by when I don’t thank my fucking stars.

    • IninewCrow@lemmy.caOPEnglish
      5·
      6 months ago

      My mom and dad were born and raised in the wilderness and my family on all sides has been part of this land for thousands of years … even with all the trouble we suffered from colonialism and racism, my dad always reminded us that life was better now than it was a generation ago … years ago I thought that was kind of dumb but as I grow older I’ve come to understand what he meant … it isn’t perfect by any means but it is still good and its up to all of us to make sure it doesn’t regress but only moves forward, not just for one segment or small group of people … but for everyone who was born here, came here, were forced here or had to be here.

      I’m happy to be part of this land with you … kitchi-meegwetch doodem … it means ‘thanks very much, my friend’ in Ojibway/Cree from northern Ontario.

      • Anony Moose@lemmy.caEnglish
        3·
        6 months ago

        Thank you for your kind words, my friend. It is an honor to be welcomed to your home, this beautiful land. I hope tomorrow brings more unity and kindness, and I will do my best to do my part to make that happen.

  • phx@lemmy.ca
    5·
    6 months ago

    Thanks for this.

    We’re all Canadians, and your family would trace back among of the originals in this country. It’s sad that people would think anyone lesser for it, but that says more about them - the ones that need to stand on others to feel big themselves - than your family or heritage. While there will always be those types, I hope the years ahead see them as the minority so the rest of us can help each other make this country a place we’re all proud to call home.

    • ahal@lemmy.ca
      31·
      6 months ago

      This is a wholesome reply, so not saying this to shame or anything, just to inform. I don’t think it’s something many people realize.

      But the statement “we’re all Canadians” is quite literally untrue. Many indigenous people do identify as Canadian and that’s great. But many others vehemently do not. What’s more is their right to self government is enshrined in the constitution, so they are actually sovereign nations living within Canada.

  • Voroxpete@sh.itjust.works
    4·
    6 months ago

    Patriotism is wanting your country to be the best it can be.

    Nationalism is believing that your country is already the best it can be, and that any dissenting voice is your enemy.

    Happy Canada Day. Let’s all keep working to make this nation a better place, for all of us.