National Indigenous Peoples Day 2021
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‘Welcoming Figure’ by artist Sequiliem (Stan Joseph) was a gift from the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish) First Nation to West Vancouver. Photo by Vince Lee on Unsplash.
Happy National Indigenous Peoples Day!
Today, and this entire National Indigenous History Month, we commemorate the 25th annual National Indigenous Peoples Day. This is a time to celebrate and honour Indigenous peoples and their histories, experiences, and stories.
Indigenous people had called for a day of solidarity for over a decade before June 21 was finally declared National Aboriginal Day in 1996. June 21, the summer solstice, is a significant day for many Indigenous peoples.
This day and month are not just a time to celebrate, but a time for us settlers to educate ourselves and reflect on our connections to settler colonialism and the stolen lands we live on. Additionally, and arguably most importantly, it’s a time to give our support Indigenous people, and their movements and organizations.
If you’re wondering where to begin, we have compiled some resources below:
Learn and Reflect
Sign up for Indigenous Canada — a free course offered by the Faculty of Native Studies at the University of Alberta.
Read the ‘In Plain Sight’ report, an investigation into anti-Indigenous discrimination in B.C. health care. Read an overview of the report from UBC.
Explore Native Land and learn the land you’re on.
Read about the Residential School System. Follow @IRSSurvivor on Twitter.
Learn about Canadian treaties and agreements.
Read the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Final Report.
Articles:
“Fairy Creek blockade: What you need to know about the anti-logging protest in B.C.” by Justine Hunter, Globe and Mail.
“What are land acknowledgements and why do they matter?” by Selena Mills, Local Love.
“What we mean when we say Indigenous land is ‘unceded’” by Emma McIntosh, National Observer.
“Why Orange Shirt Day is personal for this 11-year-old from B.C.” CBC Kids News.
Listen to Indigenous Voices
Twitter: @apihtawikosisan, @Blightyboo, @Danishinaabe, @davidnbparent, @jessewente, @Joyhenderson78, @KanahusFreedom, @Khelsilem, @LeahGazan, @LeeShingoose, @MumilaaqQaqqaq, @Napaaqtuk, @rjjago, @reallythekidd, @RMComedy, @SaveFairyCreek, @tuckeve
Instagram: @2braidzikwe, @fairycreekblockade, @indigenousclimateaction, @Ndncollective, @rainforestflyingsquad, @takaiya.blaney
Indigenous TikTok-ers
Chances are that your local nation has its own social media account, so make sure to search for and keep up with them!
Show Support
Support Indigenous Peoples’ organizations, businesses, and movements.
Environment: Resources to help fight old growth logging in B.C.
Land Back: Learn about and support the #LandBack movement.
Orange shirts:
Consider this list as a place to begin, as it is by no means exhaustive.
We are settlers living, working and playing on the stolen, unceded, and traditional lands of the sq̓əc̓iy̓aɁɬ təməxʷ (Katzie), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) peoples.