How to Celebrate Canada Day this year

This year is different, even though it really shouldn't be different. With the discovery of 215+751+182+???, Indigenous reconciliation has become the most recent equality related headline. However, over 5 years ago the TRC concluded that there were at least 4,100 Indigenous children deaths as a result of residential schools. Therefore, although the over 1,000 newly discovered deaths are absolutely sickening, this really shouldn't be the catalyst for reconciliation or come as a surprise to anybody who had paid any attention to the TRC half a decade ago. That's why this year shouldn't be different.

Is it ideal that it took this horrific discovery for people to suddenly take notice? No.

Is it good that people are now taking this seriously? Yes.

So although this Canada Day really shouldn't be different, it is, and that is a good thing. Kamloops is a much needed wake up call for Canada and Canadians - a more recent reminder that Canada has blood on its hands. We frequently shelter ourselves from our negative past, and often take solace that our past isn't as violent as our southern neighbour's, consequently resulting in our own ignorance and a superiority complex. That isn't an attack, but rather a realization. It's human nature that when challenged, or when feeling uncomfortable, your guard goes up. Fight that instinct and instead, actively try to let your guard down when faced with these conversations, because when you do, you'll realize you aren't under attack, but rather actually in a position to learn. I think we as a nation are getting better at this, and that's why we are growing.

And that's also why this Canada Day is different. This time, as a nation, we are recognizing and addressing our demons. We are starting to realize that a good country isn't one that projects perfection, but rather one that has weaknesses and is actively working on learning from them and, just as importantly, improving. In business context, would you rather an employee that pretends to be amazing, but in the process has poor self awareness, or would you rather an employee that listens to feedback, recognizes where they need to improve, and takes steps to actually get better? The former employee in this example is Canada in years past, and the latter is the Canada that I hope we are becoming.

So this Canada Day, let's celebrate our achievements and strengths, but recognize our faults. In my opinion, we don't need to cancel Canada Day, but we need to seriously change how we approach the day. How can we do that?

1. Acknowledge. As previously mentioned, let your guard down and have those tough conversations, particularly on Canada Day. Acknowledging weaknesses and areas of improvement doesn't make you not a Patriot, as much as some politicians may want you to believe.
2. Listen. Listen. Listen. There are so many stories out there. Reading of the atrocities online may not resonate or make them as real as if you hear from actual survivors. I promise you, after hearing their stories, you will be moved. Your sympathy and empathy will grow.
3. Learn. Learn. Learn. Read up on Indigenous culture, read up on Canada's relationship with Indigeneous Peoples, and read up on the TRC Calls to Action. Read about the MMIWG Inquiry. Take the Indigenous History course on coursera from the University of Alberta and learn about all the history we didn't learn in school.
4. Know the land. Even something as simple as understanding whose traditional land you are on and recognizing that is a small but powerful act of reconciliation. Although it doesn't do anything, it shows Indigenous People that you hear them, you see them, and recognize them. Take a look here. So if you're at a cottage, in a friend's backyard, or out camping, know the land you are on.
5. Check your language. Again, this is a very simple thing that can go a long way. When referring to a meeting, don't say "pow wow". If somebody is being eratic or out of control, don't say they are "going off the reservation". This really should apply to every day.
6. Take action in your personal life. It could be something as simple as just doing what I am doing now - sharing your thoughts. I've reflected on this for years, but rather than celebrate Canada Day all day, I wanted to carve out some time today and share with others what I have thought of on this topic. Or maybe every Canada Day, you can volunteer at great Indigenous resource centres or shelters, or you can donate to such charities. One local (Ottawa) Indigenous women's shelter I recommend is Minwaashin Lodge, the charity I choose for my 12beCAUSE May feat. You can learn more about Minwaashin and my feat, and donate, by going to 12because.ca/may. You can also lobby your politicians to take reconciliation seriously. Due to the way our democracy works, typically only things that are popular make their way into policy. Therefore, let your politicians know that Indigenous reconciliation is a priority for you and you want the federal government to act on the 94 Calls to Action of the TRC. If enough people make their voices heard, government will need to start actioning. Of course, you can do this any day, and not just Canada Day.
7. Take action in your work life. Whether you are in an entry level job or a leadership position, take the initiative to do some CSR to assist with Indigenous reconcilation. That can be awareness building events, culture training, corporate sponsorships/donations, recruiting targets, job shadowing, or even using Indigenous businesses in your procurement processes. There are plenty of possibilities. If you are really dedicated, you can work towards CCAB PAR certification. It is crucial that businesses participate in reconciliation and I implore all business leaders to step up. Again, you can do this every day, but maybe every Canada Day you start a CSR related initiative to symbolically show that "yes, it is Canada Day, and as part of that, I am doing my part to make Canada better". This doesn't need to be announcement, but rather just an internal commitment. This is something that I will personally do every year going forward, including this year.

These are just SOME ideas of how you can approach Canada Day, and every day, a little differently. Having been to 72 countries, I can honestly say I haven't experienced a country quite like Canada, and that's why I love this country so much. But just because I love this country, and think it is one of the best in the world, it doesn't mean I don't recognize that it isn't perfect, just like you can love a sibling but recognize that they too are not perfect. You can be a patriot and still work to improve the country. Don't let anybody, including politicians, tell you otherwise. However, what would really separate Canada from others is if we continue to increasingly improve self awareness and learn from the past, and subsequently work towards the goal of Indigenous reconciliation and all forms of equality.

As the late Richard Wagamese told me, like it or not, the relationship between Indigenous Peoples and Canada is like a marriage, and no marriage is perfect, but you should at least try to make it work. The first step is acknowledging it, and then actively working on it. He said he believed that this marriage can be saved and was worth saving. Therefore, this Canada Day, and every Canada Day going forward, let's participate in Canada Day by celebrating the good, learning from the bad, and moving forward, eliminating the ugly.