Cancel Canada Day rally in St. John's draws support, solidarity for Indigenous community

WARNING: This story contains distressing details.

A cold and rainy afternoonin St. John's didn't stop protestors from turning out by the hundreds in support of the Cancel Canada Day movement.

The rally, held on the steps of the Colonial Building, was organized by the Indigenous Activist Collective, Anti-Racism Coalition NL, Black Lives Matter NL and the Social Justice Co-operative NL as an answer to the call from the Idle No More protest movement and to draw further attention to the harms committed against Indigenous people in Canada, according to one organizer.

"Today is July 1, and a number of folks recognize that as Canada Day.However, we choose not to,"Robert Leamon,a Miq'mawland protector and co-founder ofthe Indigenous Activist Collective, told CBC News.

"We choose to instead gather to recognize all of the lives who have been lost due to racism, colonialism and ongoing genocide and oppression by Canada."

Thursday's rally featured speeches from survivors, elders,activists and allies with traditional drumming, prayers and singing. It comes on the heels of the discoveries of hundreds of unmarked graves found at former residential schools across Canada.

"I've been going through this struggle since 1963, and I was born in 1956. So, it's been a long time," said Sylvia Murphy, a Mi'kmaq woman and activist.

The crowd continued to growthroughout the afternoon.

An attempted burning of the Canadian flag was dampened by the weather as participantsturned instead to tearing it.

Signs held by supporters were held high above their heads as light winds rippled through the soggy cardboard, whilechants of support echoed throughout nearby Bannerman Park and along a busy Military Road as drivers leaned on their vehicle'shornas a sign of solidarity.

"We're really grateful for that solidarity. We're also grateful for the ways that folks have committed to continuing to be fire keepers and movement builders, to continue growing that solidarity," said Leamon.

"We've been shown and let down so many times before by our premiers and primeministers, by politicians, police,churches, schools and institutions that they are not going to listen to the thousands of hours of lived experiences. They're not going to listen to peace and friendship. They're going to listen to pressure."

Rainy daymessage

Leamon said Thursday's weather was fitting for what an elder told himwas a message fromthe Creator.

He said the rain represented the tears of the Indigenous lives lost at the hands of institutions.

"We still have to stand in solidarity with Indigenous peoples, rain or shine, and on every day now and moving forward," he said.

"We are feeling the pains of intergenerational trauma and ongoing violence in very real time. These are not single instances. These are not just dark chapters, tragic losses. Apologies, thoughts and prayers, condolences and flags at half-mast will not be enough. We have to find better ways of relating with each other."

With Thursday's rally came built relationships between Leamon'sgroup and other activist organizations in St. John's.

RavenKhadeja, who co-foundedBlack Lives Matter NL, told CBC News her group stands in solidarity with the province's Indigenous community andunderstands there can be no justice unless there is justice for all.

"We stand with every minority who feelsthey don't have a space, they're not welcome,"Khadejasaid.

"We understand and we feel we identify with the harm done, not just with Indigenous people, but through systemic racism."

Meanwhile, Leamon said, recognizing the true history of Canada and the harms it has inflicted on Indigenous people acrossthe world through systems of violence and oppression is the conversation needed for moving forward.

"That's what we're really drawing attention to, so we can find better ways of living together."

Supportis available for anyone affected by their experience at residential schools, and those who are triggered by these reports.

A national Indian Residential School crisis line has been set up to providesupportfor residential school survivorsand others affected. People can access emotional and crisis referral services by calling the 24-hour line: 1-866-925-4419.

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