From the tartan to the Canadian flag, Raven Davis’s latest project is taking time-honoured Canadian symbols and challenging their place. Through gallery pieces and public performances, the 2-Spirit Indigenous multidisciplinary artist is creating a critique of Canada’s 150 festivities, The De-Celebration of Canada.
By highlighting everyday reminders of colonization–such as the noon cannon at the Citadel, “a very loud and very clear reminder of British presence in Halifax, on unceded Mi’kmaq territory”–Davis hopes to explore how symbols of conquer and power contribute to “the erasure of Indigenous people in Canada.”
The De-Celebration of Canada will bring art-based activism to landmarks across the city this summer. Davis’s pop-up performances include placing a prayer bench from a church on Citadel Hill, performing a duration piece–one hour and 50 minutes in length, to mark 150 years–and positioning themselves near the contentious Edward Cornwallis statue. Last winter, they danced atop a paint-splattered Canadian flag while performing at the Khyber Centre for the Arts.
“Some people may find it offensive,” says Davis, an Anishinaabe artist born in Toronto who spent a decade in Cape Breton and now lives in Halifax. “I’m inviting people to consider the lack of protection that the government places on Indigenous people,” Davis says, contrasting it with protocols and guidelines to protect and honour the Canadian flag. Davis says festivities celebrating the country’s sesquicentennial—promising to be awash in the maple leaf—”perpetuate the myth of confederation.”
“This year is going to be very difficult with Canadian flags and parades and speeches and lip service by our officials.” Davis says instead of putting government money “into a huge birthday party,” funding could be better used on reconciliation, healthcare or suicide intervention in Indigenous communities.
Indigenous sovereignty has always been a theme in their work, but Davis says through “using Canadian symbolism, people are more alerted to it. It’s such a strong visual they can relate to.” This year, the artist says they’re strengthening themselves to hold some tough conversations about the narrative of the nation’s history. The parent of three says, “I want my kids to see me being political and bringing awareness to Indigenous history and struggle.”
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This article appears in Jan 26 – Feb 1, 2017.
It’s not that I find it offensive, I just don’t understand how dancing on a paint-splattered Canadian flag is art.
De-celebrate Canada if you wish but the reality is that Canada is going no where. De-celebrating and attempting to hold me hostage as a result of the actions of those who have preceded me will not change the past. But you can change the future; there is where your energies should lay.
And for the record, Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada has a huge budget for reconciliation, healthcare and suicide intervention and employs community-based strategies for tackling those issues.
My tax dollars and those of others leave lots in the pot with with enough left over for a party or two. You’re welcome to join us; or you can sulk in the corner.
When I see things like this I’m reminded of a video that circulated last Canada day featuring a Syrian refugee girl who was so overwhelmed with joy to have become a citizen of this country that she was brought to tears. That one video made me feel more proud and more grateful to be a part of this free country than I have felt in a long time. The power of that 40 second clip legitimately made me tear up a little bit. I was so happy that she could be here and wish that more like her would get the same opportunity.
I also think that those of us who were born here, regardless of creed, more often than not take what we have for granted. Yes, first nations people should be respected as the original people of this land and the history of colonization should be recognized. Surely the reality is not as black and white as some people would have us believe. Disrespect Canada all you like, that’s your right. But you can count me out.
“the myth of Confederation”
Another alt-fact…! Fuck…they’re everywhere…!
Thank you Raven <3 For encouraging us of settler heritage to reflect on the experiences of others and how our daily activities (ex. that damned cannon) might be painful reminders to hurting members of our community. For reminding us that we have to unlearn and challenge our Euro-centric, white supremacist understanding of history.
I’m grateful for my freedoms, but we’re not all free. I can’t rest knowing the injustice of the Canadian justice system, knowing that scores of reservations don’t have potable drinking water, etc.. I can’t rest while Canadian society continues to put monsters like Cornwallis and Columbus on pedestals. White Canadians need to do better. No pride in genocide.
That’s all fine and important but I find their art boring.
So great to see work being done that addresses the colonial legacy of the country during a time when our gov’t is broadly and loudly celebrating a violent, painful, and unjust period of history. Now more than ever we need art that addresses social issues head on and fights for the voices of those we rarely get to hear. Congrats on your work Raven!
Holst, I understand what you mean – the feeling of pride in seeing a new citizen feeling relief, safety, and gratitude being in Canada.
I feel that as well, but I also want to invite you to consider two pieces of info that are a part of that girls’ reaction:
1. Where she is coming from. Fleeing murder, ecenomic instability, loss of family…the relief and joy at being in the safety of Canada is amazing compared to where she is coming from.
2. She has no history with this country. Her joy is in the present (which is beautiful). But she does not have a history with this country the way some people do. For some populations in Canada this country has forgotten them, oppressed them, torn them away from their families, written them out of history, told them they don’t matter. Those people have a different relationship with this country that has been built over time.
And I disagree that the artist is disrespecting Canada. Is the only way to respect Canada to forget it’s history, fall in line, ignore the mistakes we made as a nation? I think it is beautiful to see a citizen of this nation respecting Canada by inviting us to respect ALL of Canada – all of it’s people, some of whom have been forgotten, and all of it’s history. People like this are doing the work of uniting Canada’s history with it’s future, doing the work of reconciliation that will make us a better nation. The artist is showing a huge respect for Canada by inviting us to be honest and accountable with our country.
Davis brings up some really strong and compelling points. An understanding of the genocide committed by canadian colonists should predicate any celebratory discussion.
I think Davis’s work is brave and powerful.
It’s a honest reminder that for some people “Canada” is an occupying force, and that many of us are settlers who are illegally occupying this land. It’s a reminder that “celebrating” Canada is going to mean different things to different people, based on their relationship to colonization.
Until we, as settlers, can come to terms with this uncomfortable reality we can not move forward with reconciliation, repair, and reparations. It’s not about just respecting First Nations, or the budget for Indigenous and Northern Affairs. It’s about decolonization. A fundamental shift in a relationship between nations.
I speak as a white settler.
I think that the decelebration of canada is definitely an an attempt to influence and change how the future of this country looks; clearly the artist is interested in a future where we are working towards decolonizing the way we think of ourselves and the land we live on.
For the record: Indigenous people have been “held hostage” for hundreds of years of colonial occupation. The reason Canada isn’t going anywhere is because people don’t want it to.
For the record: regardless of what ever budget exists for Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, clearly it is this artist’s opinion that more needs to be done on the path to reconciliation. They think reconciliation is more important than a party celebrating a confederation they consider an act of oppression.
For the record: colonization is not an historical act, it is a present one. The corner you are inviting them to sulk in, and the territory on which you plan to host your party are Indigenous land.
Please don’t dismiss these concerns. Please work toward a better future for us all by actually listening to what Indigenous people are saying.
Holst, just out of curiosity, what do you know about Syria and the background of that girl?
Also if you don’t mind me asking, could you please just elaborate on what you mean by saying “Yes, first nations people should be respected as the original people of this land and the history of colonization should be recognized. Surely the reality is not as black and white as some people would have us believe.”?
I love it when people throw out ridiculous statements to counter sound arguments.