OTTAWA – Events are being held across the country to mark the 30th National Indigenous Peoples’ Day on Sunday — a day meant to honour the culture, histories and contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people.
The day coincides with the summer solstice — the longest day of the year — and holds deep cultural significance for many Indigenous groups. It’s the culmination of Indigenous Peoples Month, which is observed every June.
National Indigenous Peoples’ Day, formerly National Aboriginal Day, was proclaimed in 1996 by Gov. Gen. Romeo LeBlanc after years of advocacy from Indigenous groups.
Métis National Council president Victoria Pruden will mark the day at the Rhythms of the Homeland event in Ottawa’s Minto Park. It’s being billed as a celebration of Métis food, music and dance.
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Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to be in Nanaimo, B.C., on Sunday to visit an exhibit on Snuneymuxw culture at the Nanaimo Museum.
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Gov. Gen. Louise Arbour will take part in a ceremony hosted by Aboriginal Veterans Autochtones to mark the 25th anniversary of the unveiling of the National Aboriginal Veterans Monument in Ottawa.
Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty will attend the Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival in Ottawa, which features a competition powwow, culinary experiences and educational programming.
Wanuskewin Heritage Park near Saskatoon will host a National Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration with traditional dancing, drum performances and storytelling.
Ambleside Park in Vancouver will welcome an event with live music, canoe activities and a traditional salmon dinner cooked over an open fire.
The Forks in Winnipeg will host a series of events, including the Wahkohtowin Powwow presented by the Southern Chiefs’ Organization. Other planned events include a craft and food market, live music and traditional storytelling.
A celebration of Mi’kmaw culture is being hosted at Bore Park in Moncton, N.B.
Elmastukwek Mawio’mi is hosting a sunrise ceremony and community gathering in Corner Brook, Nfld.
Yellowknives Dene First Nation is holding its annual celebration with hand games, duck plucking and canoe races at the Wiiliideh Site in the Northwest Territories.
We’koqma’q is hosting a community breakfast, medicine walk, community barbecue and fireworks show in their community in Nova Scotia.
The City of Toronto will host a morning ceremony on Sunday at Biidaasige Park.
POP Montreal is offering a free outdoor concert on Sunday with performances by Hello Crows, Linda Saddleback and the Manitou Singers.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 21, 2026.
JV, the Canadian version of Proud Boys disbanded in 2021. You also live in Canada, no MAGA here. That’s an American thing. Your neighbours and fellow Canadians didn’t vote for Trump.
I do agree that the racism here in Global’s comment section is absolutely disgusting, your racist and homophobic remarks included.
Lol all of the bitter racists keep crying. First Nations communities in BC are growing stronger everyday and getting FULL support from the government politically and financially. Not to mention the fact that these wannabe MAGA/Proudboy groups like OneBC are getting laughed out of the political spectrum completely. It’s time to celebrate!!
Which should we celebrate? First Settlers day, or Lies and demands day. St has it right, the natives should be celebrating the end of dismal youth mortality, starvation, intertribal warfare, not being able to communicate farther than the spoken word. They have come so far because they traded their interest in the land for Education, health care, no taxation, welfare, child protection services, indoor plumbing.
I wonder how much of the native celebrations, the natives are paying for with their own money… Probably none.
Falls squarely in “learning disability week” which makes sense . I’m gonna celebrate by making a grilled cheese and shagging “my cousin”
The correct term is “First Settlers Day”, you know, because they migrated here thousands of years before Europeans came and rescued them from intertribal warfare, cannibalism, slavery and Stone Age technology.
And the amazing thing is that our European ancestors did all that, while building the country we have today, with the least amount of lives lost (without military conquest). Feels to me like we should really be celebrating the second (European) settlers who created our country, not the first settlers who would still be wiping their ass with leaves without European intervention🥳
Trudeau will be celebrating by surfing in Tofino and getting another virtue signaling tattoo.
Isn’t every day native day ? Its sickening.
No thanks
The gift that keeps on giving.
What happen to fathers day..oh yes that was taken over.
I won’t be celebrating this and nether the other day in September.
Better things to do with my time