Today is Canada Day in this country.  I honour and pay respect to the privilege and reality that I live on unceded aboriginal land, meaning that Aboriginal Title has neither been surrendered nor acquired by the government (Crown) and that our national anthem notes “our home and native land.”

Canada became a self-governing Dominion on July 1, 1867. That’s only 156 years ago. We are a very young country.

The First Nations people have been here for over 15,000 years. Our history with the People of the Land was not good long ago. It is not good now, as many in our land continue to reel at discoveries of unmarked graves of children on properties of former Residential Schools, and the ongoing reality of missing and murdered indigenous women continues to appall.

But there is hope in the gentle word “Mamawi” which is Cree for “All together” – a word which holds a hope that reconciliation can happen and that this country *can* heal. It will take intention. It will take time. It will take sacrifice. It will take work. But it is possible.

As we move into the next year of the history of this country of Canada, may we work to more fully respect the traditions of the First People of this land. May we honour their love of and care for the land, waters around it, the animals and life that live on our land and in the waters around. May we stop pointing fingers and recognize our role in the sense of helplessness, anger and fear by colonization and racism. May we find healing ways to acknowledge the hurt in our country’s history. And may we express gratitude for the good that is here. For there is good here.

This weekend, may Canadians continue to be grateful, proud, and respectful of one another –
… as we stand and sing our national anthem (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUeLTZp-Dig)
… as we look at our Canadian flag and the Canadian Indigenous Flag designed by Canadian Kwakwaa’wakw artist Mulidzas—J. Curtis Wilson who tragically died in 2019 but whose creative artistry lives on (https://canadianindigenousflag.ca/about-the-artist/ his FB page www.facebook.com/Mulidzas-Curtis-Wilson-200634893312000/)
… and as we visit with family and friends and perhaps play the “Can you name these Canadian heroes” game https://www.readersdigest.ca/travel/canada/can-you-name-these-canadian-heroes/?fbclid=IwAR3A0KnQVJca0xEUuk-AbybSBHTylZ_XUwSj_wwwmjTL1ynXr9e5oN_qKQ4

Happy Canada Day, my friends.
May it be a peaceful and safe day, mindful of our many blessings.

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OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM:
We are a bilingual country.

OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM IN ENGLISH
“O Canada! Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all of us command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM IN FRENCH
Ô Canada! Terre de nos aïeux,
Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux!
Car ton bras sait porter l’épée,
Il sait porter la croix!
Ton histoire est une épopée
Des plus brillants exploits.
Et ta valeur, de foi trempée,
Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.
Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.

OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM’S BILINGUAL VERSION
O Canada! Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all of us command,
Car ton bras sait porter l’épée,
Il sait porter la croix!
Ton histoire est une épopée
Des plus brillants exploits,
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

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© June Maffin
https://soulistry.com/blog
www.facebook.com/groups/soulistry

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