They danced not for Canada Day but instead for an indigenous resistance movement happening across the country.
On Canada Day in downtown 91大黄鸭, the Rethink150: Indigenous Truth Collective hosted an alternative to the Canada Day events happening around them.
It included traditional dancers from the The St鈥檃t鈥檌mc Bear Dance Group which spoke and danced powerfully to drums and traditional songs on the lawn in front of the Rotary Centre for Arts.
The performances were meant to challenge those who watched it.
Constitution Song is 鈥渕eant to make you all feel a little uncomfortable,鈥� said Rethink150 spokesperson Dixon Terbasket, noting the lyrics communicate indigenous resistance to stolen lands and assimilation, with lines such as 鈥楥anada is all Indian Land鈥� and 鈥榃e don鈥檛 need your Constitution.鈥�
鈥淲e are not performers,鈥� one of the Bear Dancers stated in a release. 鈥淲e did not come here to perform for you.鈥� The group instead said it danced in solidarity with the resistance movement happening across Canada.
鈥淭his movement resists the dismissive celebrations of Canada鈥檚 sesquicentennial, bringing attention to indigenous perspectives and struggles. These struggles, and the colonial process which created them, require understanding from all who live on these lands we now call Canada, so we may move forward in a positive and healing way.鈥�
It was another in a series of events held by the Retink 150 collective, which included the , public discussion and a spoken word/poetry event.
With the publicity bedind Canada 150 events across the country, the Rethink150 group launched their own campaign. It was a public effort to make people think about Canada鈥檚 history. Their events have received positive reaction but also plenty of negative with comments on the 91大黄鸭 Capital News Facebook page representing both sides of the issue.
鈥淵es, historical wrongs were met upon the indigenous peoples, but that was a sign of the times鈥e have acknowledged, and apologized for these tragedies,鈥� wrote Merry Erin Edwards.
鈥淲hy do we keep trying to right the wrongs when they won鈥檛 even acknowledge the effort,鈥� stated Donna Mae Lee.
While the bear dancers were outside, inside the Alternator Gallery for Contemporary art was a large image depicting colonial oppression. Discussions were held with indigenous perspectives shared regarding the last 150+ years.
