TORONTO – In a move that many are considering very progressive, this year’s air show began with a statement recognizing the traditional Indigenous keepers of the airspace where the show was taking place.
“The Canadian National Exhibition Air Show would like to acknowledge the sky we are performing in as part of the traditional atmosphere of the Mississaugas of the Credit River, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and others,” said the announcer. “These nations were the original breathers of this air and we are grateful for the opportunity to share the sky with them today.”
“Starting the show that way really put in perspective all the terrible things we’ve done to the sky,” said one of the performing pilots. “If it weren’t for colonization, we wouldn’t have that hole in the ozone layer, all this smog, or maybe even global warming.”
“Really makes you think,” added the pilot, before taking off and putting the afterburners on full blast to perform a corkscrew barrel roll.
At press time, the rest of the acknowledgment was drowned out as a squadron of F-35 Super Hornets roared overhead at the speed of sound.
Image via Pixabay
