Canada Marks National Aboriginal Day

National Aboriginal Day was first proclaimed by the Governor General of Canada Roméo LeBlanc on June 13, 1996. Next year, we will be celebrating National Indigenous Day, or more appropriately, National Indigenous and Reconciliation Day.

“Most Canadians don’t get this day off to take in any of the wonderful events going on around the country”, said Jeff Ward, owner of the web company Animikii Inc., as reported by Macleans. Through reading, we can all play a role in celebrating and promoting First Nations, Inuit and Métis authors and books.

Day noted that there was “much to celebrate” this year in particular, in the wake of the apology and statement of reconciliation that Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne issued on May 30.

“The biggest impression (of this government) has been the importance of addressing the inquiry (into missing and murdered indigenous women) and the actions taken against violence towards indigenous women”.

The 94 calls to action coming out of the closing of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission set forward a path of Reconciliation for our country centered on the full adoption and implementation of the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This really is a groundbreaking reason to celebrate our culture, and celebrate the serious commitment to improve socio-economic conditions for all our Peoples.

The delegation of young indigenous leaders ranged in age from 18 to 38.

“The legacy of residential schools and the inter-generational pain it caused will not be healed overnight”.

On June 21, 2016, and moving into the future, the longest day of the year – the Summer Solstice – will forever be the day that marks when the sun shines stronger than ever upon our Peoples. The 26 initiatives outlined in the plan will help teach a new generation the truth about our shared history, help close the outcome gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples and help all of us build a society where we can walk together as equals, living in peace and harmony on the land we now share.

These decisions by Canada’s highest courts and Human Rights Tribunal have defined existing Aboriginal rights under Section 35 of the Constitution Act and helped to eliminate the systemic discrimination that past Canadian governments have imposed on Aboriginal peoples.