July 1 AND...the year of a less quiet choice

Today is July 1 also known as Canada Day. As a settler to this land, from the North East Coast of Ireland and with that lens national days, public holidays, celebrations and identifying with lands-flags have and continue to be complicated and deeply layered. As a result of this personal lens, connecting to and learning about the root of national days and celebrations plays an important part in who I am.

Today is the eighth July 1 I have experienced since arriving in Canada in 2015. The first five years I adopted (to varying degrees), the celebrations around Canada Day, grateful to be in a new place and to be in peaceful community as part of integrating into life here. I did not go into any depth of questioning.

In the latter part of 2019 as part of a larger reconnecting to my values and roots I made a choice, a quiet choice that going forward I would connect to July 1 using the AND...this day represents a celebration, Canadian Confederation AND this day represents cultural erosion and genocide of Indigenous peoples. It all matters and it all counts.

This July 1 year is different. It is the third year of mindfully being present to July 1 and the variety of meanings and experiences (historical and present day) that come along with it. This is my first year as a Citizen and passport holder. It's the year where I have signed up to both the rights, and the responsibilities of becoming a Citizen, the year where I took an Oath?that now refers to Aboriginal and treaty rights of Indigenous peoples.

It is the July 1 of a less quiet choice for me. It's to share the roots of what today means.

It's connecting to the privilege of choice in finding how best to knowingly connect to today AND all that powerfully comes with it.

Check out Blog written by YWCA Metro Vancouver - JULY 1 OR CANADA DAY – SHOULD I STILL CELEBRATE?

The blog offers context, thought provoking questions and ideas for how to mindfully celebrate today.

https://ywcavan.org/blog/2022/06/july-1-or-canada-day-should-i-still-celebrate

Cover photograph taken in June 2022 on the unceded traditional territory of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the x?m?θkw?y??m (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and S?l?ílw?ta?/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations also known as VanDusen Botanical Gardens.