150 Years of Colonialism, Violence, and Erasure in Canada

This Canada Day, many people across the country will be celebrating "Canada 150". But settler Canadians need to understand that when they're watching fireworks and waving their Canadian flags, they are celebrating a country founded on violence and abuse against Indigenous people. To celebrate Canada 150 is to erase this history—and moreover, to turn a blind eye to the ongoing institutionalized marginalization of Indigenous communities. This graphic timeline—by no means exhaustive—is meant to act as a starting point for people to familiarize themselves with Canada's colonialist, white supremacist history and present, ongoing discrimination against Indigenous communities. To celebrate Canada 150 is to celebrate genocide, violence, and erasure.

For more reading and resources, you can visit:

Unsettling Canada 150’s Recommended Reading List

Decolonizing Together: Moving beyond a politics of solidarity toward a practice of decolonization, Briarpatch Magazine (2012)

Dear Canada: You Need A Statement Of Facts if You're Going To Address Indigenous Issues, Ryan McMahon (2016)

The Truth About Stories: A Native Narrative, CBC Massey Lectures

STATEMENT: From Chief Scott McLeod on Canada150

Below is also a list of sources for the infographic (which can also be used for further reading!):

Indigenous Foundations, UBC

Key dates for Canada’s dealings with First Nations, Toronto Star

Trudeau Liberals take Human Rights Tribunal to court over First Nation children ruling, APTN News.

21 things you may not know about the Indian Act, CBC News

The White Paper, 1969, rabble.ca