Celebrating Canada Day Thoughtfully
The best way to celebrate Canada day thoughtfully is to actively listen to, respect, and acknowledge Indigenous communities. Through educating ourselves on the harms and mistakes of colonization and development practices, we as individuals and communities can try to move forward in a spirit of reconciliation and collaboration to build a stronger world together.
Above all, we must recognize that we cannot celebrate our country without acknowledging the history of the land we occupy. Canada is a part of Turtle Island, situated on the traditional unceded land of the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people who are the past, present, and future caretakers of this land. When we celebrate today, we must do so in a manner that amplifies indigenous voices and respects the true caretakers of the land we live on. We do this to reaffirm our commitment and responsibility to improve relationships between nations and our understanding of local Indigenous peoples and their cultures.
We recognize that we cannot speak on the behalf of the indigenous community. Therefore, we will be using our platform to amplify and highlight resources that can be used to better understand and support their needs. This growing list is part of our ongoing effort to share the powerful voices of Indigenous leaders, storytellers, and organizations to support our collective relearning of the living history of this land and its people. Listen, learn, and act with us. Please contact Info@EWB.ca to contribute to this list.
LEARN:
- Whose Land: Map showing treaties and agreements
- TRC Report Card
- Indigenous Watdog: TRC Updated Calls To Action
- Treaties and the Treaty Relationship Educational Package
- FirstVoices Portal (Indigenous Languages)
- Indigenous Knowledge and Philosophy
- First Nation Profiles Interactive Map
- Amnesty: No More Stolen Sisters
- Safe Passage
- Spirit Bear by The Caring Society: Child-Friendly Calls To Action
READ:
→ News
- Aboriginal Business Magazine
- Turtle Island News
- Anishinabek News
- Truth & Reconciliation 94 Calls to Action
- The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
→ Books
- “This Place” by Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm, Sonny Assu, Brandon Mitchell, Rachel and Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley, David A. Robertson, Niigaanwewidam James Sinclair, Jen Storm, Richard Van Camp, Katherena Vermette, Chelsea Vowel, Tara Audibert, Kyle Charles, GMB Chomichuk, Natasha Donovan, Scott B. Henderson, Ryan Howe, Andrew Lodwick, Scott A. Ford, Donovan Yaciuk and Alicia Elliott.
- “On/Me” by Francine Cunningham
- “A Mind Spread Out on the Ground” by Alice Elliott
- “Bone Black” by Carol Rose GoldenEagle
LISTEN:
→ Podcasts
- “Unrooted” Podcast by The Indigenous Foundation
- “This Place” Podcast by Kateri Akiwenzie
- The Secret Life of Canada by Leah Simone-Bowen and Falen Johnson – available wherever you get your podcasts
- “2 Crees in a Pod” by Amber Dion and Terri Suntjens– available wherever you get your podcasts.
- “Missing & Murdered: Finding Cleo” with Connie Walker
- “Unreserved” with Rosanna Deerchild
- Rural Routes to Climate Solutions Episode 30 Native Plants with Kainai Ecosystem Protection Association
- “Warrior Life” with Pam Palmater
- “Warrior Kids” with Pam Palmater
→ Music
- Sebastian Gaskin
- Jayli Wolf
- The Halluci Nation
- Morgan Toney
- Laura Niquay
- Handsome Tiger
- Tia Wood
- Snotty Nose Rez Kids
WATCH:
- We Can’t Make the Same Mistake Twice (2016)
- Why Are Indigenous Women Missing in Canada?
- Webinar: Decolonizing Data by the Urban Indian Health Institute
- TEDx Talk by Patti Boyle Bedwell
- NWAC Action Plan
- National Action Plan on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people
ACT:
→ Petitions
- #MMIWG:
- clean water for indigenous communities drinking from the great lakes basin
- Indigenous deserve clean drinking water
- Bring awareness to the first nations water crisis in Canada
- 60s scoop class-action request for amendment
- Demand an inquiry into the sixties scoop
→ Donate
- Native Women’s Association of Canada
- Community Foundations of Canada
- ISW Project
- Extensive List of Other Indigenous Charities
- Indian Residential School Survivors Society
- The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund
