150th Anniversary of Canada and Indigenous Peoples Resistance

The 150th anniversary of Canada, also known as the 150th anniversary of Confederation and promoted by the Canadian government as Canada 150, occured in 2017 as Canada marked the sesquicentennial anniversary of Canadian Confederation.  The Indigenous Peoples of Canada took issue with the celebration with numerous historical and present day complaints concerning the treatment of natives.  Many indigenous nations in Canada held their own counter remembrance ceremonies and demonstrations to mark their own observance of Canada's 150 year anniversary. 

Join Hostess Sonia Ae Martinez.  Ms. Martinez is licensed to practice law in California, Arizona, the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community, the Gila River Indian Community, the Tonto Apache Tribal Nation, the Yavapai Apache Nation, Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, and the Ak-Chin Indian Community.  She provides legal services to Phoenix residents and Tribal members in the areas of Criminal Justice, Juvenile Law, Dependency, and Family. Ms. Martinez is the immediate Past President of the Native American Bar of Arizona and the Co-Chair of the Arizona State Bar Convention 2015.  And special guest, Russ Letica, who is from the Maliseet First Nation who held their own Time Immemorial Celebration of 14,000 yrs on the land the weekend of July 1-2.  

As of the 2011 census, Aboriginal peoples in Canada totaled 1,400,685 people, or 4.3% of the national population, spread over 600 recognized First Nations governments or bands with distinctive cultures, languages, art, and music. The terms First Peoples and First Nations are both used to refer to indigenous peoples of Canada.