Indigenous groups grapple with celebrating Canada 150 as some ‘see it as a slap in the face’

Indigenous groups across Alberta are grappling with how to celebrate Canada Day, citing concerns that festivities ignore historical injustices and fail to acknowledge cultural genocide over the past 150 years.

“Some people do see it as a slap in the face or a reminder of the fact we didn’t really matter,” said Natascha Okimaw, cultural navigator at the Grande Prairie Friendship Centre, on Thursday. “For an indigenous person, it’s the celebration of the fact we were a conquered people.”

But Okimaw, who is Cree, is planning to celebrate Canada Day — she designed a float for a local parade.

“We’re building a map of Canada … we’re actually going to colour code it to the indigenous regions,” she said, adding that she also wants to highlight artwork from various regions.

Across Canada, some indigenous activists and organizations are boycotting celebrations altogether.

The movement Idle No More launched the campaign “Unsettling Canada 150” in January, calling for indigenous people to protest celebrations. Social media users are explaining why they aren’t celebrating Canada Day with hashtags, including #Resist150 and #Unsettling150.

Lyall Brenneis, committee cochair for the City of Edmonton’s Canada 150 celebrations, said organizers consulted with indigenous groups to design weekend events.

“It was a deliberate conversation we wanted to have in terms of the day,” Brenneis said about incorporating indigenous perspectives.

Renee Makinaw, a member of the Ermineskin Cree Nation, said the community about 90 kilometres south of Edmonton is planning a celebratory powwow.

“Canada’s only going to turn 150 once,” she said. “It’s good to see where we’re heading in the future as a people, and … how we’re working together.”