National Aboriginal Day is a day recognising and celebrating the cultures and contributions of the First Nations, Inuit and Métis Indigenous peoples in Canada.
The day was first celebrated in 1996, after it was proclaimed that year by then Governor General of Canada Roméo LeBlanc, to be celebrated on 21 June annually.
21 June was chosen as the statutory holiday for many reasons-including its cultural significance as the Summer solstice, and the fact that it is a day on which many Aboriginal groups traditionally celebrate their heritage.
On 21 June 2017, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau released a statement pledging to rename the event National Indigenous People’s Day.
Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde supported the proposed change, called it an “important step,” citing the terminology used in the landmark United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
National Indigenous People’s Day Quotes/Messages
All definitions of wilderness that exclude people seem to me to be false. African ‘wilderness’ areas are racist because indigenous people are being cleared out of them so white people can go on holiday there.
We are lagging far behind comparable countries in overcoming the disadvantages Indigenous people face.
We are seeing healing among the stolen generations, and initiatives which are enabling Indigenous people to make their distinctive contribution to our national life.
The most important thing is the indigenous people are not vindictive by nature. We are not here to oppress anybody – but to join together and build Bolivia, with justice and equality.
Solutions will not be found while Indigenous people are treated as victims for whom someone else must find solutions.
Through consciousness, our minds have the power to change our planet and ourselves. It is time we heed the wisdom of the ancient indigenous people and channel our consciousness and spirit to tend the garden and not destroy it.
“My experience in living and working with indigenous people has given me the hope that I have – they have taught me concretely that humans have the capacity to be marvelous, and not destructive.” » Juan Pablo Orrego
“If people lose their land, they have nothing. You lose your land — you lose your culture, you lose self.” » Richard Gere
“We are not myths of the past, ruins in the jungle, or zoos. We are people and we want to be respected, not to be victims of intolerance and racism.” » Rigoberta Menchu
“The truth is nobody can own anything. That was an unheard-of concept among indigenous people. We invented that.” » Tom Shadyac
“I guess you could say that we indigenous people are on the verge of turning it all upside down.” » Pauline Tangiora
“I want to be remembered as the person who helped us restore faith in ourselves.” » Wilma Mankiller
“The role of globalization is to homogenize all cultures, and to turn them into commodified markets, and therefore, to make them easier for global corporations to control. Global corporations are even now trying to commodify all remaining aspects of national cultures, not to mention indigenous cultures.” » Jerry Mander
“We are lagging far behind comparable countries in overcoming the disadvantages Indigenous people face.” » Malcolm Fraser