Prime Minister Justin Trudeau struck a unique tone in his Canada Day assertion this 12 months, because the nation reels from the invention of over 1,100 unmarked graves throughout three former residential college websites in Canada.
Within the assertion, Trudeau acknowledged that for some, July 1 is “not but a day of celebration.”
“The horrific findings of the stays of tons of of youngsters on the websites of former residential faculties in British Columbia and Saskatchewan have rightfully pressed us to mirror on our nation’s historic failures, and the injustices that also exist for Indigenous peoples and plenty of others in Canada,” Trudeau mentioned.
“We as Canadians should be trustworthy with ourselves about our previous.”
Final week, Cowessess First Nation in Saskatchewan mentioned {that a} ground-penetrating radar detected an estimated 751 unmarked graves on the web site the place the Marieval Indian Residential College as soon as sat. The information got here not lengthy after the stays of 215 kids had been discovered at one other former residential college web site in Kamloops.
Simply in the future earlier than Canada was set to have fun its nationwide satisfaction on July 1, the Decrease Kootenay Band mentioned a search utilizing the identical ground-penetrating radar know-how discovered 182 human stays in unmarked graves close to a former residential college web site in Cranbrook, B.C.
As communities and households reel from the information, some advocates have referred to as on Canadians to carry off on the fireworks and fanfare for Canada Day this 12 months.
“The latest discovery at Kamloops residential college has reminded us that Canada stays a rustic that has constructed its basis on the erasure and genocide of Indigenous nations, together with kids,” learn a put up on Indigenous rights group Idle No Extra’s web site.
“We refuse to take a seat idle whereas Canada’s violent historical past is well known.”
Learn extra:
O’Toole speculates he’s the ‘solely’ chief who’s pleased with Canada amid calls to cancel Canada Day
The federal government has confronted questions on whether or not Canada’s government-run celebrations ought to nonetheless happen, given the darkish discoveries that marked latest days and weeks.
Canadian Heritage remains to be holding its digital Canada Day occasions, together with a web-based live performance that includes French, English and Indigenous musicians. Nevertheless, as these occasions kick-off, the flag on the Peace Tower in Ottawa will sit at half-mast in recognition of the Indigenous kids who died in residential faculties throughout the nation.
Trudeau has mentioned he plans to spend the day celebrating along with his household. His agenda additionally lists a closed-door assembly right this moment with Phyllis Webstad, who’s the founding father of Orange Shirt Day — a nationwide day of remembrance for victims of the residential college system.
In his Thursday assertion, the prime minister additionally highlighted Canada’s accomplishments within the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The pandemic has modified our day by day lives, taught us laborious classes, and stored us aside. However by means of this problem and disaster, Canadians had been there for one another. All of us — younger and outdated — made private sacrifices to assist hold our communities secure and wholesome,” he mentioned.
“We put indicators in our home windows and banged pots and pans for our front-line well being care staff. We ordered takeout and shopped at our native small companies. And as soon as vaccines grew to become out there, we obtained our photographs as quickly as doable, so our communities may return to regular.”
Learn extra:
‘No satisfaction’: Rising calls to cancel Canada Day amid residential faculties discovery
He mentioned that right this moment, Canadians can mirror on our accomplishments, whereas additionally wanting ahead to “what extra now we have to do.”
“This Canada Day, let’s recommit to studying from and listening to one another so we will break down the obstacles that divide us, rectify the injustices of our previous, and construct a extra honest and equitable society for everybody,” Trudeau mentioned.
“Collectively, we’ll roll up our sleeves and do the laborious work that’s obligatory to construct a greater Canada.”
— With information from The Canadian Press
© 2021 International Information, a division of Corus Leisure Inc.
