This article discusses Canada’s colonial history, residential schools, and genocide. These topics may be distressing to some readers, particularly those affected by colonial violence or intergenerational trauma.
The AMS “Canada Day” post sparked more controversy than it did conversation.
On July 1, the AMS posted a controversial Canada Day post on its Instagram, calling on students to “cancel” the holiday. The post came as part of the Indigenous Idle No More movement to cancel Canada Day.
The post acknowledged Canada’s violent colonial history, pointing out that for many, Canada Day isn’t a celebration, but a time of mourning. Though an important message for reconciliation, the AMS is an apolitical, elected representation of the student body, where it’s fair to say not all students share the same perspective on the holiday.
For many students, being bluntly told to cancel a holiday they’ve spent a lifetime celebrating can be confusing and isolating. Children of war or immigration who take pride in the country that offered them asylum might be disoriented by the messaging behind the post. Above all, it’s most concerning to see a representative government act singularly, without considering the diversity of student experiences.
AMS President Jana Amer claimed in a separate interview with The Journal that the post was meant to tell an untold story, among the usual celebratory Canada Day posts. However, the student government’s Instagram page is an inappropriate venue for a statement so controversial and isolating.
Given the contentious dialogue surrounding the movement to “Cancel Canada Day,” students should expect a careful and intentional statement on the nature of the holiday. However, the post contained anything but these qualities, initially containing a typo, calling ethnic cleansing ‘ethical cleansing.’ Additionally, the post features more clipart than it does substantial research or effort.
The post failed to acknowledge that many viewers may not have a baseline knowledge about Canada’s colonial history or the I movement’s goal of cancelling the holiday. The post also lacked any significant calls to action outside of urging students to “go beyond this post.”
With multiple Indigenous related resources on campus, students might have expected the AMS to work with Four Directions Indigenous Student Centre, the Yellow House Student Centre for Equity and Inclusion, or the Office of Indigenous Initiatives (OII) to produce an accurate and educational statement on Canada Day. Instead, the post felt more inflammatory than uplifting or educational.
The post failed to acknowledge the unique role of education in Canadian colonial history. With the violent past of residential schools, educational institutions have a responsibility to acknowledge their role in perpetuating colonialism. T he post doesn’t touch on the unique relationship students have to anti-colonial efforts, and instead, further isolates them from the topic.
Calling out Canada’s colonial roots during its national holiday is an important discussion, but not one that should be perpetuated by the apolitical student government. The AMS could’ve made a thorough and educational statement; instead, the post felt as though they were claiming a moral high ground over the student body.
The post squandered an opportunity to spark meaningful dialogue on colonialism, reconciliation, and how to build a better Canada. Instead of fostering awareness and engagement, it left many students feeling isolated.
Tags
AMS, Canada Day, Idle No More, Social media
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