It’s an awkward line as it is.

I feel like this makes it even more awkward.

I mean the word native can mean “someone born in a place”. But sure it’s often used to mean to reference indigenous people. But are we redefining the word native to be the same as indigenous? Are they interchangeable?

Then there’s the whole “Where are you from? No I mean where are you really from?” line of questioning. Is that correct since we should think that it’s not the land of anyone that’s not indigenous? It’s your home but not your land, even you you’re born here?

It feels like a weird empty gesture by people that are well meaning, but haven’t really considered what the meaning behind what they’re saying. Present day sentiment is fleeting, but the words will be there long after social media has moved on to something else.

I could see the possibility that future generations could interpret it to mean something about how immigrants are making homes on land that really belongs to people born in Canada. Feels unwelcoming.

It’s just really awkward. Nice sentiment and all, but too awkward.