They danced not for Canada Day but instead for an indigenous resistance movement happening across the country.
On Canada Day in downtown Kelowna, the Rethink150: Indigenous Truth Collective hosted an alternative to the Canada Day events happening around them.
It included traditional dancers from the The St香蕉视频直播檃t香蕉视频直播檌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 香蕉视频直播渕eant to make you all feel a little uncomfortable,香蕉视频直播� said Rethink150 spokesperson Dixon Terbasket, noting the lyrics communicate indigenous resistance to stolen lands and assimilation, with lines such as 香蕉视频直播楥anada is all Indian Land香蕉视频直播� and 香蕉视频直播榃e don香蕉视频直播檛 need your Constitution.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淲e are not performers,香蕉视频直播� one of the Bear Dancers stated in a release. 香蕉视频直播淲e did not come here to perform for you.香蕉视频直播� The group instead said it danced in solidarity with the resistance movement happening across Canada.
香蕉视频直播淭his movement resists the dismissive celebrations of Canada香蕉视频直播檚 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.香蕉视频直播�
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香蕉视频直播檚 history. Their events have received positive reaction but also plenty of negative with comments on the 香蕉视频直播 Facebook page representing both sides of the issue.
香蕉视频直播淵es, historical wrongs were met upon the indigenous peoples, but that was a sign of the times香蕉视频直播e have acknowledged, and apologized for these tragedies,香蕉视频直播� wrote Merry Erin Edwards.
香蕉视频直播淲hy do we keep trying to right the wrongs when they won香蕉视频直播檛 even acknowledge the effort,香蕉视频直播� 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.
