Response To The 150th Anniversary Of Canada By Christi Belcourt

The contents of Christi Belcourt s poem, written in response to the 2017 celebration of the 150th anniversary of Canada, detail the horrors that Indigenous communities experienced or witnessed in the creation of and discovery of Canada. While reading this poem, I was able to form connections and resonate with the impactful moments that deeply express the unfathomable issues they faced and how long-lasting the effects of this maltreatment have lasted through generations. My maternal grandfather is ethnically Indigenous, being from the large Mi kmaq community in Nova Scotia, so I was able to resonate with this poem because I am aware of the treatment he witnessed and how he, consequently, does not celebrate Canada Day due to the abolition of

Additionally, it resonated with the previous lessons in this unit, as it discusses how colonisation not only stole their art, language, and practices but also stole their people, and just how far the extent of having an unreciprocated relationship with Indigenous communities has gone in society. When discussing the Arts Protocols, France Trépanier discusses how, when approaching and engaging with Indigenous societies, we must maintain the principles of respect, relevance, responsibility, relationality, and reciprocity. Unfortunately, in most cases of engagement with Indigenous communities and actions taken regarding Aboriginal culture, we see a disregard for these protocols and a lack of basic respect, and this idea is largely emphasised by the impactful issues that arise throughout this poem. Moreover, in the eyes of becoming an effective communicator, in regards to the Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations, this poem can be used to ensure we can understand and listen sensitively to the issues experienced by others, understanding what their actions are based upon and what their intention