Taking a stand by taking a seat: First Nations student reprimanded after not standing for O Canada

A Winnipeg high school student who was reprimanded and removed from class over her decision not to stand during the national anthem hopes talking about the situation sparks change and awareness.

Each morning, when O Canada plays over the speakers at River East Collegiate, 15-year-old Skyla Hart remains seated. 

“This country is a colonized country and I don’t want to stand for a colonized country,” Skyla said. “People always say, like, it was a long time ago, [but] we’re still … going through it — all the trauma from it.”

It’s a decision she said she made in Grade 5 to honour her Cree and Ojibway ancestors and her culture,