National Indigenous Peoples Day - the Canadian celebration of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis cultures

National Indigenous Peoples Day is a Canadian federal holiday observed on June 21, celebrating the cultures and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples in Canada. The day coincides with the summer solstice, which has been an important day for many Indigenous communities in Canada. Established as a national holiday in 1996, the day is observed with community events, cultural performances, traditional ceremonies, and the raising of the Métis flag, the Inuit flag, and the flags of the First Nations.

The one-line summary

A Canadian federal holiday observed on June 21 (the summer solstice), celebrating the cultures and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples in Canada. Established in 1996 (replacing the previous National Aboriginal Day), the day is observed with community events, cultural performances, traditional ceremonies, and the raising of Indigenous flags. A federal holiday for federal employees; a statutory holiday in the Yukon and the Northwest Territories.

The history of the day

The origins of National Indigenous Peoples Day lie in the broader Canadian recognition of the rights of Indigenous peoples, which has been a major theme of Canadian politics since the 1960s. The first official day celebrating Indigenous peoples in Canada was proclaimed in 1982, when the National Indian Brotherhood (now the Assembly of First Nations) called for a National Indian Day to be observed on June 21 of that year. The day was observed in 1982 and 1983, but was not made a permanent holiday.

In 1996, the government of Prime Minister Jean Chrétien proclaimed June 21 as National Aboriginal Day, in response to the report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (1996) and as part of a broader effort to recognize the contributions of Indigenous peoples to Canadian society. The day was designated as a federal holiday for federal employees, and was widely observed by businesses, schools, and community organizations.

In 2017, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the day would be renamed National Indigenous Peoples Day, in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action (2015), which called on the Canadian government to use the term "Indigenous" rather than "Aboriginal" in official contexts. The renaming was a recognition of the importance of the term "Indigenous" in the international context, and of the diversity of Indigenous peoples in Canada.

The three groups

National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrates the cultures and contributions of three distinct groups of Indigenous peoples in Canada: First Nations, Inuit, and Métis. The three groups are recognized in Section 35 of the Canadian Constitution (1982), which defines the "aboriginal peoples of Canada" as including the "Indian, Inuit, and Métis peoples."

First Nations peoples are the largest of the three groups, with over 1 million people identifying as First Nations in the 2021 Canadian census. First Nations peoples are descendants of the original inhabitants of what is now Canada (excluding the Arctic regions), and represent over 600 distinct First Nations, each with its own language, culture, and traditions.

Inuit peoples are the second largest group, with about 70,000 people identifying as Inuit in the 2021 Canadian census. Inuit peoples are descendants of the original inhabitants of the Arctic regions of what is now Canada, and live primarily in the four Inuit Nunangat regions (the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Nunavut, Nunavik, and Nunatsiavut). The Inuit language is Inuktut, which has several regional dialects.

Métis peoples are the third group, with about 600,000 people identifying as Métis in the 2021 Canadian census. Métis peoples are of mixed Indigenous and European (primarily French, Scottish, and English) descent, and emerged as a distinct people in the 18th and 19th centuries in the Red River and Saskatchewan River valleys. The Métis language is Michif, which is a unique blend of French, Cree, and other languages.

How it is observed

National Indigenous Peoples Day is observed with several distinctive traditions, each with its own history and meaning. The most prominent are: (1) community events, including cultural performances, traditional ceremonies, and educational activities; (2) the raising of the Métis flag, the Inuit flag (the Inuksuk), and the flags of the First Nations at government buildings and other public spaces; (3) the giving of speeches and statements by government officials and Indigenous leaders; (4) the sharing of traditional foods, including bannock, smoked salmon, and other Indigenous dishes; and (5) the recognition of the contributions of Indigenous peoples to Canadian society.

The community events are the most visible expression of the day. The events are held in cities and towns across Canada, with the largest events in Ottawa (Parliament Hill), Winnipeg (The Forks), Edmonton (the Amiskwaciy Academy), and Vancouver (Kitsilano Beach). The events typically include traditional music and dance, the sharing of traditional foods, the telling of stories by Elders, and the recognition of the contributions of Indigenous peoples.

The flag raising is another distinctive feature of the day. The flags of the First Nations (a distinctive flag with a thunderbird symbol on a red and white background), the Métis (a blue flag with a white infinity symbol), and the Inuit (a blue and white flag with a stylized inuksuk) are raised at government buildings, schools, and other public spaces across Canada. The flag raising is a public expression of the recognition of the three groups of Indigenous peoples, and is widely considered to be one of the most visible expressions of the day.

The truth and reconciliation context

National Indigenous Peoples Day is observed in the context of the broader Canadian effort at truth and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC), which was established in 2008 and concluded in 2015, issued 94 Calls to Action calling on the Canadian government and Canadians in general to address the legacy of the residential school system. The Calls to Action include the renaming of National Aboriginal Day to National Indigenous Peoples Day, the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and the establishment of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (observed on September 30).

National Indigenous Peoples Day is also observed alongside the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30), which was established in 2021 as a federal holiday. The two days are the most important federal holidays related to Indigenous peoples in Canada, and are widely observed by both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians. The two days are the basis for a growing recognition of the contributions of Indigenous peoples to Canadian society.

Related observances

National Indigenous Peoples Day is part of a larger cycle of Canadian national observances related to Indigenous peoples and history, including the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30), Canada Day (July 1), and Remembrance Day (November 11). The day is also associated with the National Indigenous History Month (June), which was established in 2009 to celebrate the history of Indigenous peoples in Canada. The day is observed in all Canadian provinces and territories, and is one of the most important federal holidays in Canada.

Sources

• en.wikipedia.org, National Indigenous Peoples Day.
• rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca, National Indigenous Peoples Day.
• canada.ca, National Indigenous Peoples Day.
• britannica.com, National Indigenous Peoples Day.