I feel like it’s necessary to say that if you’re Canadian or American, keep in mind that your Independence Day likely didn’t include everyone, meaning BIPOC. Remember that indigenous groups especially are still struggling, which is an understatement.

Our countries were built on genocide. Don’t listen to those who pretend it’s anything but that.

Lol…. There’s a lot of anger in the notes/replies.

But l didn’t make this post for those who want to label genocide as “just history” or dismiss it because “a lot of countries were built on genocide”, and use straw man or ad hominem fallacies against me.

This is for those who come from indigenous backgrounds, for those who keep being told the death of their ancestors and the erasure of their culture “wasn’t that bad”, for those who keep being told to “move on” and repress the generational heartbreak passed down to them, for those who know that even though you’re considered American or Canadian for simply being born here you still aren’t treated like one.

Additionally, I’m not speaking for any indigenous groups nor am I assuming all indigenous people feel the same way. I just refuse to ignore the voices that say, “Don’t ignore our history.”