National Indigenous Peoples Day in Canada tinged with sadness
A day to celebrate Indigenous peoples in Canada is tinged with sadness.
It’s the 25th anniversary of National Indigenous Peoples Day. For many, like Natalie Lloyd, who is the general administrator of Ottawa’s Wabano Centre, it’s a day to take a moment.
“What we did today is take pause, take pause to reflect.”
The news of the remains of children found at a former residential school in Kamloops, B.C. has had an impact across Canada, including on Ottawa’s community at the Wabano Centre.
“It brings up a lot of trauma because, for a lot of us, some of my co-workers have actually been to residential school, or it’s their parents, or their grandparents who’ve gone,” Lloyd tells CTV News Ottawa.
“People need to understand that a lot of Indigenous people are grieving. They’re realizing that could’ve been my grandmother and I wouldn’t have been here. That could’ve been another family member, or that was another family member who I heard about and we never knew where they were.”
The Wabano Centre launched the “Wabano Legacy Series” Monday. The series of videos were created to honour Elders who have shared teachings.
The day first started as National Aboriginal People’s Day in 1996.
“It’s definitely morphed a little bit over time and it’s definitely always had a cultural component for celebration,” said Katherine Minich, a lecturer with Carleton University’s Indigenous Policy and Administration Program.
The national observance recognizes the heritage, diverse cultures, and achievements of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people. It also takes place on summer solstice.
“It being the first day of summer, the longest day in the year, it’s definitely a time to reflect as Indigenous peoples on that connection with how we’re parts of the Earth,” says Minich.
National Indigenous Peoples Day is marked as a statutory holiday in the Northwest Territories, but many think it should be a national holiday.
“It would be a nice one to begin our summer,” says Minich.
The City of Ottawa marked the day with a new addition to Pimisi LRT Station.
In a tweet, mayor Jim Watson said, “Today, on National Indigenous Peoples Day, we unveil the first installation of the Algonquin Wayfinding Wheel at Pimisi Station, designed by Algonquin artist, Simon Brascoupé.”
What would be been the finale to the month long Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival is now extended to June 29 because of thunderstorm watches for Ottawa, says Trina Mather-Simard, festival producer.
“For us, our festival has always been built around that day, creating an opportunity for our community to really celebrate it, and just really welcoming all other Canadians to spend the month getting a little more awareness and understanding of Indigenous cultures.”
For Lloyd, it’s a day to pause, reflect, and enjoy the longest day of the year.
“Summer solstice and National Indigenous Peoples Day is a day for everybody. We’re in this place together.”
--
If you are a former residential school student in distress, or have been affected by the residential school system and need help, you can contact the 24-hour Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line: 1-866-925-4419.
Additional mental-health support and resources for Indigenous people are available here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
What Canadians think of the latest Liberal budget
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Teacher shortages see some Ontario high school students awarded perfect grades on midterm exams
Students at a high school in York Region have been awarded perfect marks on their midterm exams in three subjects – not because of their academic performances however, but because they had no teacher.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
An Ontario senior thought he called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.
Her fiance has been in prison for 49 years. She's trying to free him before it's too late
Christine Roess is a retired consultant. Ezra Bozeman has spent the last 49 years in prison, serving a life sentence for a murder he says he didn’t commit. Against the odds, the two fell in love.