Ever gone to a wedding where you’re sitting in the aisles when the Minister (religious or political) asks “does anybody have good reason to object to this union”, and you discover your hand is half way up and you are plagued by indecision? Welcome to the Native Canada150 conundrum.
In case you have missed all the advertising, Canada is in full gear celebrating the 150th anniversary of its creation, the combining of four provinces into a dominion, back in 1867. Reportedly, it was a sunny day and there was much jubilation amongst its three and a quarter million citizens. As usual, most Native people were not invited to the festivities, what with them being Native and apparently having nothing to do with the creation of this country. After all, this was the kind of thing White people liked to do.
Now its 2017 and this time Native people have indeed been invited to the party. But now the question seems to be “do they want to party?” Millions and millions of dollars are being spent promoting events and projects all across the country, highlighting important people, places and things in Canadian history. But on the heels of the all-to-recent Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the soon to start Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women Commission, and the plethora of land claims and various court cases scattered across Canada (which by the way is a Haudenosaunee word meaning a group of huts or village), some in the First Nations community –and especially the arts – wonder if perhaps they, in good consciousness, should dip into that trough of festivity funds and join in a round of ‘Happy Birthday’ to Canada in celebration. I mean, nobody wants to be a downer at a party.
Actually, many do, including Anishnawbe comedian Ryan McMahon does. He’s the Ojibway in the room. “I don’t know what we’re celebrating. It doesn’t matter what colour underwear the Prime Minister wears, red, blue, orange or green, successive governments have acted dishonourably. The Indigenous reality in this country is not the same as everyday Canadians’ reality. I will not celebrate high suicide rates, thousands of missing or murdered Indigenous women & 2 Spirit People, the Indian Act or a heartless child welfare system. I care too much about my people and our futures to put our differences aside for fireworks and hotdogs.”
This seems to be the theme for dissenters, and for those participating – the tortured and complicated history of Native/Government relations- making it difficult to raise a glass of whatever for a toast. Just check out #resistance150. Other artists like Christi Belcourt are not exactly enthusiastic about the celebration, judging from her poem “Canada, I cite for you 150”. The opening lines give you her general opinion of the festivities.
I can cite for you
150
Lists of the dead
150 languages no longer spoken
150 rivers poisoned
150 Indigenous children taken into care last month
150 Indigenous communities without water
150 grieving in a hotel in Winnipeg
150 times a million lies
Even those contributing to the festivities are well aware of the murky flavour of the birthday cake. Cree playwright and interim Artist Director of Saskatoon’s Gordon Tootoosis Nikaniwin Theatre, Ken Williams has expressed his own moral dilemmas about partaking. “I’m participating in Canada150 activities as an individual artist and artistic director. Indigenous stories of resistance and resiliency must be shared at times like this, as well as in the future. For me, I need to participate to ensure that Canada’s story remains complex and complete, so that nothing is sanded away in the flurry of celebration.”
Essentially, the argument is that participating is not the same as celebrating. I agree. Metaphorically, just because you have to have dinner with the in-laws doesn’t mean you have to celebrate it. You don’t give away t shirts and hot dogs when you do jury duty.
Admittedly, I am not exactly objective on this issue. In October, the National Arts Centre in Ottawa is producing a play about John A. Macdonald…from the Native perspective… that I was commissioned to write. When first approached by Jillian Kelley, Artistic Director of the English theatre, I was puzzled. Why me? I am not particularly well known for historical plays or plays about dead white politicians. But after some pondering, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to shed some unique Indigenous light on this early period in Native/settler relations, and of course, explore the story of a man with a dubious reputation in the Aboriginal community. It should also be noted that I plan to use the money received from this artistic endeavour to do battle with a new tyranny imposed upon me by the dominant Canadian society, an evil called a mortgage. It’s financing my attempt to take a small portion of our land back.
It’s not just individual First Nation artists sitting on that fence. Many different organizations across the country are exploring necessary and unexpected complex issues arising from this hullabaloo. The Indigenous Education & Community Engagement at Vancouver Community College came up with a unique way of handling the potentially volatile situation. “At a recent department meeting, the discussion around Canada’s birthday prompted a less than celebratory response. Some have said that they will not celebrate a country that has taken, and continues to take, from our [Aboriginal] people. It seemed that the comment had created an uneasiness, yet at the same time, it was important to acknowledge and more importantly give considerable thought and attention to the different reactions/responses. Believing that there may be others who feel the same, we decided to give staff and students an opportunity to share what they feel about Canada’s 150th. We will host an activity, called “Spoken Word” where participants can share, in 150 words, what Canada’s 150th means to them. With participant consent the collection of stories will be displayed for others to read.”
Two weeks ago, I was sitting in the Saskatoon airport. Above me was a sign featuring the lovely face of Native actress and producer Jennifer Podemski. Beside the WE.CA logo, was the message “How will Jennifer shape Canada’s next 150 years.” Good question, but I think we have to get through this year first.
Issues are seldom easy in the First Nations community. Even when it comes to partying.