By the Indigenous Relations Office Staff at the City of Edmonton. Learn more at edmonton.ca/iro. Lori Blahey is a former Senior Marketing Consultant at EPL.
Many Canadians know that National Indigenous Peoples Day is recognized each year on June 21. But did you know that the entire month of June is National Indigenous History Month?
National Indigenous History Month
June includes a number of significant days in the recognition and honouring of Indigenous peoples and Canadian history. Sunday, June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day (formerly known as National Aboriginal Day) and has been recognized on the summer solstice since 1996. Tuesday, June 2 is the anniversary of the release of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Final Report and Calls to Action in 2015. This marks five years since the release of the final report, making it an ideal time to reflect on how Canada has responded to the Calls to Action.
What’s Happening at the City of Edmonton?
The City is committed to supporting Indigenous communities and citizens in the pursuit of their economic, social and cultural aspirations. The Indigenous Peoples Strategy Council Initiative outlines this commitment by City Council.
In recent years, the City has partnered with local community organizations and school boards to recognize and celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day on Sunday, June 21 and Reconciliation Week (culminating in the anniversary of the TRC Final Report).
This year, we’ve shifted our focus to promoting and sharing information about community events happening in and around the City and learning resources throughout the June for National Indigenous History Month. We call this initiative Indigenous History Month in Edmonton.
Learn about the wide range of events and opportunities for learning about and celebrating Indigenous peoples’ history, heritage and diversity. A variety of events and resources will be shared, including:
- a virtual panel discussion looking back at the five years since the TRC Final Report.
- an online reconciliation-themed film festival.
- a series of physical activities and games developed with Indigenous communities from across Alberta that you can try at home.
With the current COVID-19 situation, most in-person events have been adjusted and many have been moved online. As more Edmontonians stay home, many community organizations are also providing online learning resources and information. Through the City’s Indigenous History Month webpage, we will showcase a range of both events and learning resources available within the community.
More Information
Visit the City's website for further information, or contact indigenousrelations@edmonton.ca if you would like to have your event/resources included.
The Indigenous Relations Office and EPL are pleased to collaborate to promote events and opportunities for learning during Indigenous History Month. Check out some of EPL's online Indigenous events .
We wish you a safe and happy June, and more importantly, an enriching Indigenous History Month in Edmonton!
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