I'm of mixed ancestry...I feel a deep connection to this coast where I live and one of my best memories is working with friends preparing salmon for the smoke house one frosty morning.

My relatives were not accepted in the native nor the non-native world for a few generations....there are many sad stories that thankfully we've mostly left behind.  We've thrived largely I think because we weren't taught to think of ourselves as victims.  The painful experiences of growing up are still evident in some of the older relatives but they've held back on passing the bitterness that they must feel onto their children and grandchildren.  Feeling comfortable in this place is difficult for young people at certain stages....the last thing they need is ongoing pointing to the wrongs of the past, unless it's part of a narrative of healing and reconciliation.

Happy Canada Day to everyone!