The CRRF celebrates National Indigenous History Month

The CRRF celebrates National Indigenous History Month to honour the history, heritage and diversity of Indigenous peoples in Canada. (June 1, 2020)

In June 2009, the House of Commons voted unanimously to declare the month of June to be National Indigenous History Month, an opportunity for Canadians to celebrate not only the historical contributions of the First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples, but also to acknowledge the strength of these communities in present-day Canada.

While the entire month of June represents an opportunity to learn about Indigenous culture and to participate in local events, June 21 – designated in Canada as National Indigenous Peoples Day – is especially important. The date corresponds to the summer solstice and is the time at which many Indigenous Peoples’ groups have celebrated their culture and their heritage.

We encourage Canadians to take time during the month of June to review the 94 Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. Reconciliation is the business of every person who lives in Canada, whether they have just arrived or have lived here for generations.

We invite you to learn more about Indigenous History and Reconciliation through CRRF resources:

• “The Spirit of Reconciliation”, a guidebook made in partnership with Vancouver School of Theology
• Learning about Racism courses, particularly Canadian-Indigenous Treaties and A Primer on Intercultural Dialogue
• Racism Problems and Solutions videos, particularly Walking in Two Worlds, Inuk Butterfly, and Beyond Unceded Territories