They danced not for Canada Day but instead for an indigenous resistance movement happening across the country.
On Canada Day in downtown Âé¶čAV, the Rethink150: Indigenous Truth Collective hosted an alternative to the Canada Day events happening around them.
It included traditional dancers from the The Stâatâimc 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 âmeant to make you all feel a little uncomfortable,â said Rethink150 spokesperson Dixon Terbasket, noting the lyrics communicate indigenous resistance to stolen lands and assimilation, with lines such as âCanada is all Indian Landâ and âWe donât need your Constitution.â
âWe are not performers,â one of the Bear Dancers stated in a release. âWe did not come here to perform for you.â The group instead said it danced in solidarity with the resistance movement happening across Canada.
âThis movement resists the dismissive celebrations of Canadaâs 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.â
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 Canadaâs history. Their events have received positive reaction but also plenty of negative with comments on the Âé¶čAV Facebook page representing both sides of the issue.
âYes, historical wrongs were met upon the indigenous peoples, but that was a sign of the timesâŠwe have acknowledged, and apologized for these tragedies,â wrote Merry Erin Edwards.
âWhy do we keep trying to right the wrongs when they wonât even acknowledge the effort,â 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.
