National Indigenous Peoples Day
Saturday June 21, 2025
National Indigenous Peoples Day—formerly known as National Aboriginal Day—is dedicated to honouring and celebrating the cultures, histories, and contributions of the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples in Canada.
The observance was first introduced in 1996, following a proclamation by then-Governor General Roméo LeBlanc, designating June 21 as the official date. This date was selected partly because of its cultural relevance: it marks the summer solstice, a time traditionally celebrated by many Indigenous communities.
The push for a day honouring Indigenous peoples has a long history. In 1945, Jules Sioui and other Indigenous leaders declared an Indian Day. In 1982, the National Indian Brotherhood (now the Assembly of First Nations) called for a National Aboriginal Solidarity Day on June 21. Quebec was the first province to formally recognize the day in 1990.
Momentum continued to grow: in 1995, a national gathering called The Sacred Assembly, led by Elijah Harper, advocated for a national holiday to celebrate Indigenous contributions. In 1996, the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples recommended a National First Peoples Day, again emphasizing the importance of June 21.
The Northwest Territories became the first jurisdiction to make it a statutory holiday through the National Aboriginal Day Act in 2001. Later, in 2009, the House of Commons designated June as National Aboriginal History Month, now called National Indigenous History Month.
On June 21, 2017, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pledged to change the day’s name to National Indigenous Peoples Day, a move supported by AFN National Chief Perry Bellegarde, who highlighted its alignment with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Although the related legislation (Bill C-369) did not pass before Parliament was dissolved, the Federal Government has since adopted and uses the name in its communications.
The Northwest Territories has recognized the day as a statutory holiday since 2001, followed by Yukon in 2017. However, it is not yet a statutory holiday across the rest of Canada.
Each year, the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) celebrates the day with a televised cultural event known as Indigenous Day Live.
This June 21, we invite you to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day. There are many events across Canada and probably one close to you. Here is a link to a Government of Canada webpage that lists over 1,500 different events.
