OTTAWA — After the discovery of hundreds of bodies in unmarked graves at former schools for Indigenous children, communities across Canada are canceling or altering plans to celebrate a patriotic holiday on Thursday, increasing the pressure on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to call off national celebrations. With the discovery of the bodies at two schools in Western Canada, most of them children, many members of Indigenous communities and their leaders say that it’s inappropriate at this moment to celebrate the country behind the system. Canada Day marks the date, July 1, 1867, when three British colonies were joined together to create the Dominion of Canada. Many Indigenous people have never commemorated Canada Day and view their Canadian citizenship as something that was imposed on them. Others, however, have actively participated in celebrations in the past.

Source: New York Times June 28, 2021 19:52 UTC