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Check out our exclusive Columbia College Orange Shirt Day T-Shirts, designed by Indigenous Artist, Jadyn Fischer-McNab.

June 21 - National Indigenous Peoples Day

National Indigenous Peoples Day

National Indigenous Peoples Day is a significant celebration in Canada that honors and recognizes the diverse cultures, traditions, and contributions of Indigenous peoples. Observed on June 21st each year, it serves as an occasion to commemorate and appreciate the rich heritage, history, and achievements of Indigenous communities. By commemorating National Indigenous Peoples Day, we honor and recognize the invaluable cultural, social, and economic contributions of Indigenous peoples while striving for a more inclusive and equitable society for all.

Resources and Events in Calgary:

May 5 – Red Dress Day

The National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People

May 5 is recognized as Red Dress Day which is the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People. It is a time to share awareness about the disproportionate violence experienced by these groups. To honor and recognize this day, Columbia has put together some resources to spread awareness to our community. Please take time to review some sites and listen to the stories.

Alarming Statistics: Understanding the Reality of Violence Against Indigenous Women in Canada

  • Spousal violence of Indigenous women is three times higher than non-Indigenous women.
  • A woman or girl is murdered every two and a half days in Canada.
  • Indigenous women are killed at six times the rate of non-Indigenous women.

September 30 - Orange Shirt Day

National Day of Truth and Reconciliation

In 2015 the Truth and Reconciliation Commission released its report on the lasting impact of Canada’s residential school system. September 30 has been declared by the Government of Canada as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This day represents Canada’s moral obligation to honour and remember survivors of Canada’s Indian Residential Schools and Day School programs. It is a day to support survivors, remember those who did not make it home, and advocate for those who are impacted by intergenerational trauma. As part of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action, we advocate any Reconciliation efforts from the Columbia College community.

While this work requires a deliberate, ongoing process not bound by day or time, September 30 is a day to listen, learn, reflect, act, and ultimately be an active agent in change toward a stronger, more inclusive, and just Canada.

 

What Can I Do?

Reflect

Consider your personal contributions to reconciliation.

Listen

Listen to those who are willing to share their stories and experiences, that is a privilege you have been given. Listen to Indigenous podcasts and musicians.

Acknowledge

Acknowledge the Residential school and other experiences of Indigenous Peoples.

Learn

Learn about the diversity of Indigenous communities across the country and specifically about those located where you live.

Read

Read materials created by Indigenous authors, share stories with children. Read and implement the Calls to Action by the Truth and Reconciliation.

Watch

Watch films and documentaries by Indigenous film-makers. Visit Indigenous exhibitions at GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums) or cultural institutions.

Support

Support emerging and established Indigenous authors, artists, creators, communities, and groups. Volunteer at an Indigenous not-for-profit.

Advocate

​​​​​​​Advocate for Indigenous causes and supports as invited to do so.

Read

Here is a collection of materials created by Indigenous authors. Read them, share them with children, and implement the Calls to Action.
Review the Truth and Reconciliation reports and archives

The NCTR Archives and Collections is the foundation for ongoing learning and research. Here, Survivors, their families, educators, researchers, and the public can examine the residential school system more deeply with the goal of fostering reconciliation and healing.

Review and listen to a podcast from Think Indigenous.

Think Indigenous is a podcast that highlights its yearly conference keynotes & "Red Talk" presentations sharing best practices, innovation and delivery models of Indigenous education.

Listen

Listen to those who are willing to share their stories and experiences, that is a privilege you have been given. Here is a collection of Indigenous podcasts and musicians.

Watch

Visit Indigenous exhibitions at GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums) or cultural institutions. Here is a collection of films and documentaries by Indigenous film-makers.
Watch the Ted Talk presented by Lindsay Morcom – A history of Indigenous languages – and how to revitalize them.

Indigenous languages across North America are under threat of extinction due to the colonial legacy of cultural erasure, says linguist Lindsay Morcom. Highlighting grassroots strategies developed by the Anishinaabe people of Canada to revive their language and community, Morcom makes a passionate case for enacting policies that could protect Indigenous heritage for generations to come.

WERKLUND SCHOOL OF EDUCATION: a resource websites for faculty for lesson planning

This is an interactive web resource that is designed to assist educators with weaving Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing into their teaching and learning, starting with story. Responding to the Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and to current provincial professional standards for education, this resource is intended to help teachers build foundational knowledge and competencies in Indigenous education. Here you will find a searchable database of Indigenous literary texts, as well as some secondary sources, that might be used within education

Learn

Here are some resources available where you can learn about the diversity of Indigenous communities across the country and specifically about those located where you live. 

Participate

Participate in one or more of the activities to recognize the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Events during Aboriginal Awareness Week in Calgary 2023

Aboriginal Awareness Week CALGARY (AAWC) hosts a variety of events during the week of June 21 that serves to promote pride, understanding, and awareness of Aboriginal cultures, traditions, contributions, and achievements to Canadian history, business, agriculture, the environment, and the arts.

The CIF Reconciliation Society works in collaboration with other community organizations to deliver art-based workshops and events that provide education through Indigenous ways of knowing and to promote healing and reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.

Indigenous Friendship Centre of Calgary

The Indigenous Friendship Centre of Calgary works to remove barriers and empower the community through cultural reconnection, programs, services and access to resources that address the social and economic realities of indigenous people.

Resources

Explore these valuable resources to deepen your knowledge of Indigenous cultures and communities, and discover organizations dedicated to supporting Indigenous peoples across Canada.