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 …
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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.