For many people, Canada Day is a celebration.
It is flags, fireworks, long weekends, family gatherings, music, parades, and pride in a country they call home.
But for many Indigenous Peoples, Canada Day is more complicated.
It can bring unease. Grief. Anger. Exhaustion. Disconnection. A feeling of being asked to celebrate a country that has not yet fully told the truth about how it came to be, or what that creation cost the Original Peoples of these lands.
This does not mean Indigenous Peoples do not love their communities, their territories, their families, or the land. It does not mean there is no hope. It does not mean there is no room for relationship.
It means that celebration without truth can feel hollow.
Canada was built on lands already loved, governed, named, travelled, protected, and understood by Indigenous Nations. Long before Confederation, there were laws here. Languages here. Trade routes here. Diplomacy here. Families here. Governance here. Spiritual relationships here. Responsibilities here.
Indigenous Peoples were not waiting to be discovered.
They were living in relationship with land, water, one another, and future generations.
To celebrate Canada honestly, we must be willing to remember that this country did not begin in 1867. Canada’s political story may have a birthday. But the lands beneath it carry stories much older than the country itself.
That is where the tension lives.
How do we celebrate a nation while also acknowledging that its growth came through broken treaties, land theft, residential schools, Indian hospitals, child welfare removals, forced displacement, language loss, racism, and policies designed to separate Indigenous Peoples from land, culture, family, and identity?
How do we wave a flag while Indigenous communities continue to fight for clean water, housing, health care, equitable education, child safety, land protection, and the right to make decisions about their own futures?
How do we speak of reconciliation while self-determination is still treated as something to be negotiated, limited, delayed, or managed?
For Canada Day to become something more honest, it must become more than celebration.
It must become reflection.
It must become responsibility.
It must become a national willingness to ask: What kind of country are we still becoming?
Self-determination is at the heart of that question.
For Indigenous Peoples, self-determination means the right to govern their own lives, lands, cultures, languages, children, economies, health systems, education systems, and futures. It means Indigenous Nations are not stakeholders in someone else’s project. They are rights holders. Treaty partners. Original Peoples. Nations with inherent responsibilities and authority.
Self-determination is not a threat to Canada.
It is one of the only paths toward a Canada that can finally become honest with itself.
A country that fears Indigenous self-determination is a country still invested in control.
A country that honours Indigenous self-determination is a country beginning to understand reconciliation.
Reconciliation cannot mean asking Indigenous Peoples to fit more comfortably inside systems that were built without them. It cannot mean adding ceremony to institutions while leaving power unchanged. It cannot mean land acknowledgements without land relationships. It cannot mean celebrating diversity while avoiding restitution, jurisdiction, accountability, and repair.
Reconciliation must change the conditions.
It must show up in child welfare.
In health care.
In education.
In justice.
In housing.
In environmental decisions.
In funding.
In governance.
In how land and water are protected.
In who has authority.
In who is believed.
In who is listened to.
In who gets to decide.
Canada Day could become a day that holds more than pride. It could become a day of maturity. A day where love of country is measured not by how loudly we celebrate, but by how bravely we face the truth.
A better Canada would not ask Indigenous Peoples to set their grief aside so others can feel comfortable.
A better Canada would make room for grief and celebration, truth and hope, accountability and belonging.
A better Canada would understand that Indigenous Peoples are not obstacles to national unity. They are essential to the possibility of a just future on these lands.
So perhaps the question is not whether Canada Day should be celebrated or rejected by everyone in the same way.
Perhaps the question is whether Canada is willing to become worthy of celebration.
Worthy through truth.
Worthy through justice.
Worthy through repaired relationships.
Worthy through self-determination.
Worthy through the protection of children, land, water, language, culture, and future generations.
The day after National Indigenous History Month ends, Canada Day arrives.
That timing asks something of us.
It asks whether we will leave what we learned behind, or carry it forward.
It asks whether reconciliation will remain a word, or become a responsibility.
It asks whether we are willing to build a country where Indigenous Peoples do not have to choose between surviving Canada and belonging within it.
That is the work.
That is the invitation.
Not to celebrate blindly.
Not to condemn without hope.
But to tell the truth, honour Indigenous self-determination, and help build a country that future generations may one day celebrate with fuller hearts.
Presented by Samantha Doxtater
Presented by GRANDMA RENEE
In a world seeking direction, Indigenous teachings offer clear and enduring policies for how to live in harmony with one another and the Earth. This workshop invites participants to explore the profound lessons of the Two Row Wampum Belt and other wampum belts as frameworks for mutual respect, environmental care, and collective well-being. These belts, created long before colonization, embody ancestral agreements that guide humanity on how to coexist with honor, dignity, and reciprocity.
Led by Grandmother Renee, this session emphasizes the importance of relearning and honoring the policies established by our ancestors, rather than creating new paths disconnected from this wisdom. Through the teachings of the belts, participants will uncover the principles of self-care, stewardship of the land, and respect for all beings. This is not about inventing something new—it is about rediscovering the instructions that were always there and committing to uphold them.
Key Takeaways:
Through this workshop, participants will be reminded that the wisdom of the belts is not only a guide for Indigenous communities but a path for all of humanity to walk together in respect and care for one another and the Earth.
Presented by Grandma Gail and Angela DeMontigny
Ceremony is more than tradition—it is a deliberate practice rooted in wisdom, responsibility, and foresight. This workshop explores the “science of ceremony” as a guide to living with intention and accountability for the next seven generations. Our ancestors used ceremony to prepare for the future, ensuring that their actions would benefit not only their own time but also those yet to come. Now, it is our responsibility to carry that practice forward.
Led by Grandmother Gail, this session will examine what has been lost and the actions we must take to restore, respect, and reclaim the ceremonial practices that ensure the well-being of future generations. Participants will be encouraged to reconnect with ceremony as a means of healing, reflection, and renewal, building a foundation of responsibility to guide us in restoring balance and harmony.
Key Takeaways:
Through this workshop, participants will rediscover the transformative power of ceremony as a pathway to healing, accountability, and preparation for a sustainable and harmonious future. Together, we will reaffirm our responsibility to the generations to come.
Presented by Asha Frost
Join Asha Frost, an Indigenous healer, teacher, and bestselling author, for a transformative workshop rooted in traditional teachings and the power of self-discovery. Asha’s work often centers on reconnecting with ancestral wisdom, embracing one’s authentic self, and creating pathways for healing and empowerment. Drawing from her Anishinaabe roots, she weaves stories, teachings, and practical tools to inspire participants to reclaim their power and align with their purpose.
Through her signature blend of traditional healing practices and modern insights, Asha guides participants in understanding how to honor their own journey, navigate challenges with resilience, and embrace the interconnectedness of all beings. This workshop is an invitation to explore the sacred within and around us, fostering personal growth and collective transformation.
Key Takeaways:
Whether you are seeking personal healing, professional inspiration, or a deeper connection to traditional wisdom, this session with Asha Frost promises to be a profound and enriching experience.
Presented by Allen Sutherland
The Seven Fires prophecy, as shared by seven prophets across different time periods, offers profound guidance for humanity’s path forward. According to Anishinaabe oral tradition, these teachings speak to the choices we face when the world has been polluted, and the waters turned bitter by disrespect. The prophecy teaches that humanity must choose between materialism and spirituality—one path leading to survival and the other to destruction.
In this workshop, Mishoomis Allen will guide participants through the teachings of the Seven Fires prophecy, exploring its relevance in today’s world and its call for spiritual renewal. Additionally, he will share his Canadian Indigenous Historical Timeline, providing a broader context for understanding the cultural, social, and spiritual significance of these teachings.
Key Takeaways:
This workshop offers an opportunity to reflect deeply on humanity’s collective responsibility and the transformative power of choosing a spiritual path for the survival of future generations.
Presented by Thohahoken Michael Doxtater
In this session, Thohahoken Michael Doxtater explores the ongoing impact of Canada’s colonial policies on Indigenous communities and the historical journey toward Truth and Reconciliation. He examines the systemic attempts to erase Indigenous identity, from residential schools to the suppression of cultural practices, and highlights Indigenous resilience and legal resistance. The presentation also delves into the concept of the “Canada Rafter,” a historical agreement acknowledging Canada’s adoption into the Indigenous Longhouse, raising the question: Has Canada truly upheld its responsibilities in this relationship?
