National Indigenous Peoples Day is an occasion to commemorate and celebrate the rich cultural traditions and contributions of First Nations, Métis, Inuit and Urban Indigenous peoples on whose lands we live, work, learn and play.
It is also a time to remember the past and present pain that forces of colonization have inflicted on Indigenous communities. In this country, there exists a history of harmful legislation, institutions and policies that were intentionally created to assimilate and subjugate Indigenous people, including the Indian Act, forcible removal from traditional homelands, Indian Residential Schools and “The Sixties Scoop.” These colonial practices have left lasting and ongoing impacts on Indigenous communities, and their collective pain and grief is real and must be acknowledged and supported so that healing can take place.