Celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day by learning about history with these important resources

June is Indigenous History Month and June 21st is Indigenous Peoples Day, which is meant to recognize and highlight the cultures, traditions, diversity and rich histories of First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples.

The holiday, which began in 1996, always coincides with the first day of summer and the longest day of the year.

It offers a chance for all Canadians to experience Indigenous culture beyond reading about it in textbooks or headlines.

This year, Indigenous Peoples Day comes at a time when there's an even greater focus on the communities following the news last month of the remains of 215 children buried in unmarked graves at Kamloops Indian Residential School in B.C. 

According to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, there were over 150,000 Indigenous children removed from their family homes and communities and sent to Residential Schools between 1870 and 1996. 

It's more important than ever to unlearn the colonialist mentality that caused so much pain and suffering. It's time to listen to Indigenous voices and build connections with communities while engaging in meaningful dialogue and doing homework by reading about the history of Residential Schools and continuing to ask questions about the missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

We must continue to learn about Indigenous history and champion its unique, rich culture.

To celebrate this year, an encore broadcast of APTN's Indigenous Day Live (IDL) event will air today at 2:30 p.m. IDL features many of Turtle Island's established and emerging Indigenous artists in a creative way. The event will be hosted by Earl Wood and Janelle Wookey, featuring performances from Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Tom Wilson, Neon Dreams, Julian Taylor, Anachnid, Charlotte Cardin and more. 

Stay up to date on Indigenous issues and communities with the important resources listed below.

Online Resources

Indian Residential School Survivors Society - IRSSS provides essential services to Residential School Survivors, their families, and those dealing with Intergenerational traumas.

National Centre For Truth And Reconciliation - The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) is a place of learning and dialogue where the truths of Residential School Survivors, families and communities are honoured and kept safe for future generations.

Truth And Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action - Conducted by the NCTR.

University of Alberta – Free Indigenous Canada Course - Indigenous Canada is a 12-lesson Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) from the Faculty of Native Studies that explores Indigenous histories and contemporary issues in Canada.

Legacy of Hope Foundation - A national Indigenous charitable organization with the mandate to educate and create awareness and understanding about the Residential School System.

Orange Shirt Society - Began Orange Shirt Day, which is designed to commemorate the Residential School experience, to witness and honour the healing journey of the survivors and their families, and to commit to the ongoing process of reconciliation.

We Matter Campaign - A place to help Indigenous youth get through hard times, whether you need support yourself or want to support someone you know.

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami - A national Inuit organization.

COADY International Institute - COADY is committed to reducing poverty and transforming societies by strengthening local economies, by building resilient communities and promoting social accountability and good governance.

Creative Collaboration Towards Reconciliation - Sixteen Simcoe County artists were inspired to initiate a {Re}conciliation Art Project. They came together to learn from each other, share stories, gain understanding and collaborate on a linked series of artworks.

Gojijing Truth and Reconciliation Roundtable - A growing circle of community leaders, committed to generating pathways of truth, reconciliation and right relations across our greater Gojijing bioregion in Williams Treaty Territory.

Reconciliation Canada - Reconciliation Canada is leading the way in engaging Canadians in dialogue and transformative experiences that revitalize the relationships among Indigenous peoples and all Canadians.

First Nations Child and Family Caring Society - The Caring Society works to ensure the safety and well-being of First Nations youth and their families through education initiatives, public policy campaigns and providing quality resources to support communities. 

Books

Broken Circle: The Dark Legacy of Indian Residential Schools by Theodore Fontaine 

21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act by Bob Joseph 

I Am Not A Number by Jenny Kay  Dupuis & Kathy Kacer

Fatty Legs: A True Story by Christy Jordan-Fenton & Margaret Olemaun Pokiak-Fenton 

Unsettling the Settler Within by Paulette Regan

All Our Relations: Finding the Path Forward by Tanya Talaga

Speaking Our Truth: A Journey of Reconciliation by Monique Gray Smith

Movies

We Were Children directed by Tim Wolochatiuk

Indian Horse directed by Stephen S. Campanelli

Rustic Oracle directed by Sonia Bonspille Boileau

Stories Are in Our Bones directed by Janine Windolph

BEFORE YOU GO: Two-Spirit Indigenous owned brand makes genderless clothing

[video_embed id='2223637']BEFORE YOU GO: Two-Spirit Indigenous owned brand makes genderless clothing[/video_embed]