Skip to content

PHOTOS: Canada Day: Pride and resentment on display at BC Legislature

Hundreds come out to form living flag, celebrations continue amidst quiet protest

Thousands of people in red and white t-shirts were herded into the shape of the Canadian flag on the front lawn of the BC Legislature building Monday.

From the ground, the all-ages participants patiently moved this way and that, until finally, the living flag spectacle was complete – a living representation honouring 152 years of Canada’s post-confederation existence.

READ ALSO: Packed Canada Day in Sidney sees parade, dog show and a helicopter rescue

READ ALSO: Sooke celebrates Canada’s 152nd birthday

Meanwhile, at the Royal BC Museum, the Le-La-La dancers, of Kwakwaka’wakw First Nation performed traditional dances for the public, at one point inviting them to join in a circle dance.

And while visitors and locals alike celebrated Canada with food trucks, bouncy castles, face painting, live music and performances, a small group moved onto the front lawn of the legislature. One man banged a drum, singing the Canadian anthem with satirical emphasis, while another danced, a Canadian flag with the words, “Still Stolen” graffitied on it in black.

“We’re here representing the youth who are, daily, struggling with the effects of colonization and struggling with the ongoing genocide against Indigenous peoples.” said Wraven Sibbesdon. “We are feeling underrepresented and wanting to have our voices heard.

READ ALSO: What’s in a name? How Canada’s national birthday as we know it came to be

“It’s a very hard thing for us to try and celebrate Canada…we are so hard pressed to find true reconciliation work being done when there is still over 50 reserves without drinking water…when the Trans Mountain pipeline was approved…Before the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Womens Inquiry came out [and] reported that Canada is in fact, committing an ongoing genocide against Indigenous peoples.

To come and celebrate today, like it’s all good, I think is a total farse.”



nina.grossman@blackpress.ca

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter