NOSM Celebrates National Indigenous Peoples Day
Posted on June 21, 2021
June 21, 2021 marks the 25th annual National Indigenous Peoples Day, a day when we celebrate the diverse culture, the rich history and the wondrousness of First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples—our colleagues, friends and family. This date was chosen for many reasons, including its cultural significance as the summer solstice, and the fact that it is a day on which many Indigenous peoples and communities across the region traditionally celebrate their heritage.
Today is an important day for all Canadians to observe. Participate in Indigenous cultural celebrations and be open to listening and learning about the history, culture and perspectives of Indigenous communities across the North.
We must also pay heed to the legacy of missing and murdered women and children, residential schools—particularly with the recent discovery of the remains of 215 Indigenous children near the former Kamloops Indian Residential School on the lands of the Tk’emlups te Secwépemc First Nation in British Columbia and now more in Manitoba and Saskatchewan—and to lost children of the Sixties Scoop. There continues to be unacceptable living conditions, water and food insecurity, and the spread of the pandemic in vulnerable communities. Please take the time to reflect on systemic racism while also embracing Indigeneity as an inherent integral part of being Canadian.
Today, let’s collectively honour the contributions of Indigenous Peoples, while recognizing their sustained resiliency in the face of systemic racism and colonization.