An all-out celebration of Canada Day would be B次元官网网址渄isrespectfulB次元官网网址� this year.

ThatB次元官网网址檚 because something significant has shifted since hundreds of unmarked graves were found so far in B.C. and Saskatchewan, according to Wenona Hall, associate professor in Indigenous Studies at University of the Fraser Valley (UFV).

B次元官网网址淚 think in general Canada Day has always been a bit of a challenge B次元官网网址� and a contradiction B次元官网网址� for Indigenous people,B次元官网网址� Hall said. B次元官网网址淐anada hasnB次元官网网址檛 treated us very well, so there are mixed feelings about it.B次元官网网址�

With more Canadians embracing harsh truths about residential schools and how the system impacted survivors and their families over many generations, it could be time to reframe the institutions set up to destroy Indian culture.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think we should be calling them B次元官网网址榮choolsB次元官网网址� at all,B次元官网网址� Hall said. B次元官网网址淎t best they were child labour camps, and at worst they were death camps.B次元官网网址�

The UFV associate professor acknowledged thatB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址渟trong languageB次元官网网址� to describe the government-sanctioned, church-run institutions B次元官网网址渂ut the very least we can do for the survivors of this genocide is to start speaking the truth.B次元官网网址�

The ground-penetrating radar used by local First Nations to find the unmarked graves of the 215 souls in Kamloops has led to a broader national sense of shared loss.

B次元官网网址淲e have always known about the lost children. That is where the paradigm shift is taking place, now that Canadians have concrete evidence.B次元官网网址�

Her auntie told her they shouldnB次元官网网址檛 be thinking about the unmarked graves as a B次元官网网址榙iscoveryB次元官网网址� but as a B次元官网网址榬ecoveryB次元官网网址� instead.

Flags were lowered to half mast across Canada when the news came out.

B次元官网网址淭hat was respectful. It showed we are mourning and that we are hearing the truth.B次元官网网址�

ItB次元官网网址檚 beyond sad it had to come to this point.

B次元官网网址淲e are all humans. We can relate to that terrible loss, and recovery of these children. So many Canadians are mourning with us too,B次元官网网址� Hall added.

So instead of opting for a rah-rah celebration, Hall recommends that folks take the day on July 1 to educate themselves about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, and review the 94 Calls to Action, meant to B次元官网网址渞edress the legacy of residential schools and advance the process of Canadian reconciliation.B次元官网网址�

They could lower their Canadian flags to half mast, and while theyB次元官网网址檙e at it, flying alongside the maple leaf could be the flag of the First Nation whose land the flag is on, she suggested.

Canadians could even wear their orange shirts instead of red and white on Canada Day, and do a little research to ensure they know the story behind Orange Shirt Day.

B次元官网网址淲e could celebrate Indigenous people instead,B次元官网网址� Hall said, adding itB次元官网网址檚 a good time to raise levels of awareness, education and social justice.

B次元官网网址淚f we are sincere about reconciliation, Canadians need to take the time to learn what it is that we are trying to reconcile.B次元官网网址�

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