National Indigenous Peoples Day

Today, June 21, is National Indigenous Peoples Day, a time to recognize and celebrate the cultures and contributions of the First Nations, Inuit and Métis in Canada. The celebrations will be much different this year because of COVID-19, but the spirit and meaning of this important day are in no way diminished. In fact, given the experiences and tragedies in different parts of our country in recent months, this day takes on even more significance.

There have been many conversations about the sad reality that Indigenous people are still subject to racism, both systemic and overt. A key part of that journey is raising cultural awareness and understanding, something we have committed to do alongside the strong, vibrant Mi’kmaw culture in Nova Scotia. We continue to develop resources in our schools and have made the promotion of Mi’kmaw culture a major part of our Culture Action Plan.