July 1 is traditionally a time when Canadians coast-to-coast celebrate what they believe to be the greatest country in the world.
This year however there’s an undeniable haze hanging over any celebrations-and it’s not from a dazzling display of fireworks.
Instead of beaming with pride many Canadians are struggling with exactly how to deal with the news of yet another discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves at a former residential school, this time in Saskatchewan. The news offered a stark reminder that Our Home And (On) Native Land isn’t as perfect as we’ve always been encouraged to believe.
In light of the disturbing discovery some communities have taken to cancelling their Canada Day celebrations. Some say they just wouldn’t feel right celebrating just a few days after the spotlight have been shone on so many injustices carried out by those who were once revered. After centuries of being hailed as a Canadian icon, Sir John A Macdonald has been banished from streets and parks.
Typically speaking ignorance is a rather pitiful excuse for not knowing the whole story on a matter like this one. But in this case Canadians of a certain age have somewhat of an excuse for not knowing the horrible indignities and suffering that were endured at residential schools. Canada’s mainstream schools have done a good job at glossing over that part of the country’s history. It’s been said most Canadians learned more about the Holocaust than they did about what happened in their own backyard. That’s not to say one should be taught instead of the other, but to only highlight Canada’s proud moments in history while ignoring the injustices is only telling half the story.
This isn’t something that happened long ago far from here either. According to an interactive map put together by the CBC, Alnwick Industrial School operated from 1838 to 1966. A mere 55 years ago, some 100 km from Greater Napanee. And if that’s not recent enough, the last school of its kind was still in operation in Canada right up until 1996. If nothing else the tragic news of the last month draws attention to a shameful topic that has been ignored for decades. It’s not that people weren’t trying to tell us, we simply didn’t want to hear it. There’s no overlooking it now.
And so on a day where we’d usually brag about achievements such as the victory of Vimy Ridge, the discovery of insulin, Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope or even Paul Henderson’s ’72 Summit Series winning goal, Canadians have to realize this nation has seen its share of dark moments too. Recent news doesn’t take away from some of Canada’s proudest accomplishments-those are still a part of out history and deserve to be honoured. But out of respect to those who have been wronged in the past, it’s time to start telling the whole story, even the parts we’re not proud of. Tragic as the circumstances that brought this to everyone’s attention are, to see this as anything but an opportunity to start having difficult conversations would only serve to make it worse.
Adam Prudhomme