In a wonderful post by Mohawk blogger Joe Brant, he explains the importance of a gift Queen Elizabeth offered to the Six Nations Sunday, marking a 300-year independent relationship.
Brant is right to shine a light on this incredible relationship and its historic significance. Sadly, he is also correct in pointing out the ignorance of Canadians to a major piece of our cultural history. But, it is no surprise. Other than the Acadians in New Brunswick, who marks the anniversary of the Expulsion of 1755, one of the darkest days in our collective history, on July 28? And, even on a local basis, who can name their Father of Confederation. In Cobourg that would be James Cockburn, the first speaker of the Canadian parliament in 1867.
Have just read Christopher Moore’s book on the settlement of the Loyalists in Canada, I was struck at the importance of the First Nations. Not as aids to explorers or as advisors to local settlers, but as a nation who fought as our allies in a prolonged war to ensure we remained independent as a nation and did not get swallowed up by the Americans. Our sovereignty was protected through that partnership. We owe them a great deal.
And, it is nice to see the Queen acknowledging that independence. If more Canadians understood their own history, we might be more willing to do the same.