People who attended a new type of Canada Day celebration on Friday at The Forks in Winnipeg say the event gave them a chance to celebrate their country as they reflected on their past.
Mike Edwards came to the event with his family, all dressed in orange T-shirts, the color associated with honoring survivors and Indigenous families forced to attend residential schools.
He said he liked the new direction the national historic site took to include more elements of indigenous culture in its July 1 celebrations this year.
“While Canada is where I live, I think there are things that need to be recognized about Canada’s history. And I think it’s important to recognize the history of Canada’s relationship with Indigenous people,” he said.
Edwards, who is not a native, said he believes there is a way to balance Canada Day celebrations with reflections on the country’s history.
“But I think after so many years of celebrating traditional Canada Day … it’s important to tip the scales in another direction,” he said.
The national historic site, where the Red and Assiniboine rivers meet, and which has been a major meeting point for thousands of years, announced two weeks ago that after months of indigenous-led discussions with community members, newcomers and young, he decided to remodel it. as would be their usual July 1st acts.
Discussions followed after last year’s discoveries of what are believed to be hundreds of unmarked graves in residential schools across the country.
These findings led many to choose not to celebrate Canada Day in 2021 and instead spend the day honoring the thousands of children forced to attend institutions.
Clare MacKay, executive director of The Forks, said the site wanted to offer people a variety of experiences this year, ranging from quiet places for contemplation to places for meetings and celebrations as it sought to reimagine its July 1 events.
Clare MacKay, executive director of The Forks, says the site will offer its annual feedback survey later this month and specifically ask people what they thought of the reimagined Canada Day celebrations. (Travis Golby / CBC)
“Canada Day is Canada Day. And we wanted to make sure we could indicate that we were doing things differently, that we had consulted with our communities, with Indians in particular, newcomers and young people.” , said MacKay.
“That’s really our intention for this whole day, it’s to bring everyone from our city here to learn from each other, get together, move forward together.”
Excited newcomer to commemorate Canada’s first day
MacKay said he hopes The Forks can take advantage of this year’s work to create an even stronger program for July 1 next year.
This may include the fireworks, which this year were largely abandoned due to weather issues: the programming ends at 6pm and a fireworks show will not take place until 11pm.
But the site will also consider the environmental and other impacts of the sound displays before re-offering fireworks, he said.
The Forks will offer its annual feedback survey to the community later this month. This year, he will specifically ask people what he thought of the reimagined Canada Day celebrations.
Also at the event on Friday was Camilo Nirvaz, who came to Canada from Colombia with his wife and dog two months ago.
Nirvaz said he was excited to celebrate his first Canada Day by celebrating his new country and learning about his past and about indigenous cultures.
“I will learn about the many traditions of Canada. History is very important, because when you introduce history, customs, you will know the Canadian steps,” he said.
Friday’s event at The Forks had spaces for both quiet reflection and celebrations. (Sam Samson / CBC)
The day’s activities included lessons on how to create and offer tobacco ties to the fire, with the help of Nathan Ertel and Shawn Thomas, from the St. John’s Outreach program. Boniface Street Links.
Thomas, who is from Peguis First Nation, said he has been learning more recently about Canada’s residential school system and expects others to spend some time this July 1 doing the same.
“Now it’s important for people to understand what’s going on,” he said.
Ertel, who is not Indigenous, said she expects people to think a little about the different options they have for celebrating Canada Day.
“Either you can celebrate it or you can remember it [parts of Canada’s history]or you can do both, “he said.” It’s up to you to decide. “
Charles Woolford, who is from the Wuskwi Sipihk First Nation, was among firefighters attending the fire at The Forks on Friday.
Woolford, 25, said it was an honor to do the job, especially when it means sharing traditions with the younger generation or with people who have lost touch with their culture.
“It is important that First Nations re-learn our traditions and ceremonies,” he said.
“We have to think about our young people, because they don’t know how to do these things.”
“He’s not a politician,” says Assiniboia Downs ’assistant
Karen Suderman said she would normally attend Canada Day festivities at The Forks, but that on Friday she attended the celebrations at Assiniboia Downs.
Suderman, who is a Métis, disagrees with the reimagining of Canada Day events at The Forks.
“To each his own,” he said. “It’s a little sad that you make it political, because it’s not political. It’s Canada Day.”
Karen Suderman said she would normally go to Canada Day events at The Forks, but this year she chose to celebrate it at Assiniboia Downs. (Travis Golby / CBC)
Michelle Huot, who was also in Assiniboia Downs on Friday, said she was in conflict over how to celebrate Canada’s birthday with her young family.
“I want to celebrate … but we have such a complicated story,” he said, adding that he is trying to balance the celebration with reflection.
“I think you can do both.”