National Indigenous Peoples Day – June 21, 2023

Practice Point

National Indigenous Peoples Day – June 21, 2023
20
Jun

Celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day!  

It is a time to recognize and celebrate cultural richness, and to reflect on the histories, contributions, and strengths of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples.

For non-Indigenous Canadians, it is an opportunity to fulfill our duty to learn, and to show recognition and respect for the role Indigenous Peoples have played and continue to play in shaping Canada. We share a collective responsibility to understand this history and play a meaningful role in Reconciliation.

June 21 is also the summer solstice, the day of the year with the longest light. It is a day with spiritual significance for many people and is a good time to celebrate Indigenous peoples and cultures.

We invite you to visit our Truth and Reconciliation webpage and access the free resources there, including the TRC27 blogpapers, keynote speeches and recordings such as the Indigenous Women and the Law Conference.

Here are some events outside of Vancouver for you to consider:

https://tsbc.ca/high-school-students-to-participate-in-bilingual-concert-on-national-indigenous-peoples-day/

https://www.instagram.com/p/Ce_mM-thQxn/?img_index=1

https://komoksfestival.com/index.html

https://thereach.ca/events/national-indigenous-peoples-day-2/

https://www.surrey.ca/news-events/events/surreys-national-indigenous-peoples-day-celebration-wellness-event

This is the Decade of Indigenous Languages!

Specific cultural knowledge is preserved and passed down generations through speaking the native language. When a language goes extinct, it takes with it the group’s keys to cultural understanding.

The situation is critical for Indigenous languages; an estimated 50% of today’s spoken languages will be extinct or seriously endangered by 2100.

Learn more about it here: https://en.unesco.org/idil2022-2032

https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/indigenous-languages.html

and here at the TRC27 Blog: https://www.cle.bc.ca/national-indigenous-languages-day-online-resources/

To celebrate together today, we invite you to find out which languages are spoken on the territory where you live.

Find out here: https://maps.fpcc.ca/