Our diversity makes Canada a stronger nation

It’s that time of year. This past Thursday was World Refugee Day, followed on Friday by National Indigenous Peoples Day. Monday is Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day followed on July 1 by Canada Day.

The newest Canadians and three founding nations are all represented. (Actually, there was one founding nation, the one composed of Indigenous Nations. Then we were found by the French and British.) Amid those celebrations, last week also showcased the Canadian dichotomy, with a vast human rainbow celebrating the Toronto Raptors’ NBA championship while on the other side of the Ottawa River the Quebec government passed a draconian piece of legislation banning religious symbols in the provincial workforce.

While on the surface Bill 21 appears to blanket all religions, the obvious target is the Muslim community. The idea of women wearing head scarves or covering their faces seems to be too much for many narrow-minded Quebecers. Montreal is a liberal cosmopolitan community but, beyond that city, the province of Quebec remains a very European-esque society, ill-prepared for the influx of new Canadians coming from all over the world.

Under this legislation, federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh couldn’t teach school in Quebec or even be a school crossing guard.

When I see a man wearing a turban or a woman wearing a head scarf, I admire their devotion to their religion. I also am happy that we as a country embrace diversity and are not a melting pot like the United States. We are a nation of diversity, not the lowest common denominator.

I am quite proud when our Sikh defence minister, Harjit Sajjan, appears on the international stage showing the world that we are a truly international nation. It also warms my heart to see First Nations men and boys with long hair and braids. It’s a representation of our culture and religion. When young children went to boarding school, the first thing to go was their braids.

I admire the acts of devotion such as the Muslim observance of Ramadan, the Christian observance of Lent and our people’s preparation for a sun dance. When a person participates in a sun dance they make a fouryear commitment and throughout the year they participate in ceremonies that lead to the annual sun dance. Like many other religious observances, it is a celebration of thanksgiving and a commitment to abstinence.

All the world’s religions have a core set of principles of how to live, including kindness, generosity, humility, loyalty and honesty. Practicing Christians, Hindus, Muslims and more strive to live a good life based on the same principles. These universal truths are held in common.

So, what are these so-called Canadian values? Like beauty, they seem to be in the mind of the beholder. The Conservatives tried to sow fear and division in the last election by trying to define Canadian values as endangered and under attack from heathen outsiders. They never defined “Canadian values” but left the impression that it meant white, middle-class, Christian values.

In 2016, polling firm Nanos conducted a survey to determine Canadian values. Of the survey’s top 10, the four top Canadian values were rights and freedoms; equality and justice; respect for others; and kindness and compassion. According to the same survey, the top four reasons to be a proud Canadian were equality and justice; our reputation as peacekeepers; multiculturalism, diversity and bilingualism; and our respect for others.

These survey results are a long way from the bleak picture painted by the Quebec government and some members of other political parties.

It seems that Canadians have a more positive view of themselves than many national and provincial politicians. Fears of the imposition of Sharia law, terrorism and conspiracy theories are the stuff of the radical right.

As an Indigenous Canadian, I welcome diversity and the acceptance of refugees from around the world. We need to belong to a country that sees ourselves as a part of the whole, not a homogeneous nation that consists of us and them.

So, I hope you enjoyed Indigenous Peoples Day and that you’re looking forward to Canada Day. Just remember that we all share a common set of principles that together make us a stronger nation.