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National Indigenous History Month – June 2024

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June is National Indigenous History Month and on Friday, June 21, we also celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day (NIPD), an occasion to honour the vibrant, diverse cultures of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities. This day is for people across Turtle Island to recognize and acknowledge Indigenous Peoples, their respective cultures, and their sovereignty. Each community carries distinct languages, long-practiced values, modern self-determined systems, and relations worthy of acknowledgment and reverence. 

National Indigenous Peoples Day was established on June 21, 1996, and is celebrated as a statutory territorial holiday in the Northwest Territories (since 2001) and in the Yukon (since 2017). These territories are comprised of self-governing Nations that have the right to develop their own constitutions and pass laws for their own settlement land and citizens. Aligning with the embrace of the summer solstice, June 21 holds deep significance for many Indigenous communities—a symbol of renewal and the eternal dance between light and shadow.  

NIPD is the pinnacle of National Indigenous History Month, with invitations and opportunities to learn more about the rich histories and present-day cultural and economic initiatives in Indigenous communities and unceded territories. These include deepening one’s understanding of historic and ongoing harms affecting Indigenous communities, which require that we listen and learn more, acting when invited to do so. Below are many ways to engage by watching, listening, participating, generating dialogue, reflecting, contributing, dancing and celebrating.   

  Scroll, Listen, Create and Share 

  • Shina Nova (@shinanova), an Inuk throat singer who shares her Inuit culture with the world. 
  • Michelle Chubb (@indigenous_baddie), a Cree activist, public speaker, and model 
  • James Jones (@notoriouscree), traditional hoop and pow wow dancer, performing artist and public speaker  
  • Isaac Murdoch, a Storyteller and multi-media artist. Sponsor ‘Paint along with Isaac’ in June.  
  • Brandi Morin (@Songstress28), an award-winning Cree/Iroquois/French Human Rights Journalist 
  • Métis Amii (@metis_amii), a doll named Amii who is rising on social media and takes you along with her as she follows her Métis roots home 
  • Jesse Gouchy, one of the founders of Miska Creative Society (@miska.society), an Indigenous-led not-for-profit  
  • Alysha Collie, founder of The Collie Collective (@collie.collective), and Indigenous Storyteller, public speaker, filmmaker, and artist 
  • Aysanabee (@_aysanabee_), an Oji-Cree multi-instrumentalist, producer and singer-songwriter 

Watch and Stream Indigenous Cinema 

Host a screening at home or DIY film festival and contest at work. We recommend Reel Injun (2009) a  

compelling review of how Hollywood has shaped perceptions, biases and stereotypes of Indigenous Peoples  

from the silent era onward. We also love Little Big Community (2021) new from Pepper O’bomsawin and  

streaming on APTN. Select from the National Film Board of Canada’s catalogue of over 200 Indigenous films.  

Netflix, Amazon, Prime and Disney will also feature Indigenous cinema and shorts in June. Other ideas:  

Participate and Celebrate  

Spread the word! One of the most effective things you can do is raise awareness about National Indigenous History Month and National Indigenous Peoples Day as you participate. #NationalIndigenousHistoryMonth #NationalIndigenousPeoplesDay #NIPD  

  • Attend a local or virtual National Indigenous Peoples Day event, workshop or exhibition such as:  
  • Visit and tend to the land. Spend time connecting to the land that sustains you, acknowledging the Indigenous stewards of this land that have been here for time immemorial. 
  • Check out last year’s kid-friendly learning and activity guide for printable games for little ones. 
  • Explore Indigenous-owned restaurants, food trucks, stores and small businesses in your area. 
  • Purchase from Indigenous artists and creators. Check out Things We Like on the Rise website.  
  • Pow Wow is for everyone!  Need some helpful hints and ‘know before you go’?  
  • June 1-2 Peace River, AB 
  • June 7-9 Strathmore, AB 
  • June 7-9 Lilwat PW Mt. Currie, BC 
  • June 7-9 Vernon, BC 
  • June 7-9 Taylor, BC 
  • June 7-9 Mitaanjigaming Rainy Lake, ON  
  • June 8 Banff, AB 
  • June 8 Enoch, AB  
  • June 14-16 Driftpile, AB  
  • June 14-16 Canoe Lake, SK 
  • June 14-16 Williams Lake, BC 
  • June 21-23 Grande Prairie, AB 
  • June 21-23 Saddle Lake, AB 
  • June 21-23 Kakewistahaw, SK 
  • June 22 Fort McLeod, AB 
  • June 27-30 Siksika, AB 
  • June 28-30 Kamloops, BC 
  • June 28-30 Frog Lake, AB 
  • June 29 Merritt, BC 
  • June 29-30 Muskeg Lake, SK 

Reflect 

  • Learn about whose land you are on, or about the lands that raised you Native Land Canada website 
  • Learn about The First Nations Principle of OCAP. How are you in accord with OCAP?  
  • Read the Calls to Action Accountability: A 2023 Status Update on Reconciliation from the Yellowhead Institute 
  • How has your understanding of Indigenous Peoples evolved over time and what factors have contributed to this change? 
  • What does decolonizing mean to you? How are you creating space for Indigenous-led? In what ways can organizations continue to transform and decolonize workplace practices? 
  • How can you contribute to Reconciliation efforts and foster positive relationships with Indigenous Peoples, both as an individual and at the community level? 
  • Have you listened to the stories and experiences of Indigenous individuals and communities, and have you made an effort to empathize with what is shared? 
  • How can you use your privilege, platform or resources to support Indigenous-led initiatives, promote cultural resurgence, and advocate for policy changes that benefit Indigenous communities?