National Indigenous Peoples Day/National Indigenous History Month
This blog is brought to you by GVAT’s Indigenous Relationships Learning Circle, a sub-group of our Committee on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. National Indigenous Peoples Day on Wednesday June 21 is a day to celebrate and honor Indigenous heritage, diversity, and cultures, as well as the outstanding achievements of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples throughout Canada. There are public events that settlers can attend (or even volunteer at). This is a good way of showing support. In Greater Victoria, the main event this year is:
Wednesday, June 21, 2023 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Royal Roads University grounds. • Canoe Landing Protocol and Canoe Challenge • Indigenous artists and musicians • field games – for kids of all ages • craft table--make something to take home • guided nature walks • Food trucks • Shop and visit with Indigenous vendors. Everyone welcome. Free admission.
You can also honor the day from the comfort of your home by:
Watching APTN (Aboriginal Peoples Television Network) As a prequel, you can watch APTN Indigenous Day Live 2023 from 5:00 pm-7:00 pm on Saturday, June 17.
The whole month of June is National Indigenous Peoples History Month. Get educated. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission reminds us that truth comes before reconciliation. It is important that we learn the truth about the history of Indigenous peoples on Turtle Island from pre-Canada through to today. Few, if any of us, learned that truth in school.
Ways to Educate Yourself include:
Books by Indigenous authors. The Greater Victoria Public Library and the library at Victoria Native Friendship Center (which anyone can access by joining VNFC) have a wide selection. Five Little Indians by Michelle Good, is a novel that won the Canada Reads competition in 2022. 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act by Bob Joseph, a BC Indigenous author, is a non-fiction bestseller.
TV–Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN); Knowledge Network (eg. Future History: https://www.knowledge.ca/program/future-history?mkt_tok=Nzc0LVNITy0yMjgAAAGLI_unFcpVL364nFWWXdsuAxx4ntGeqSANTbLlbXaKtIYrR1ofE4giN76WK9RbifE44vM08eaLiMOHUcvop4xNT3zXSMdFQCDlQ_-hbEvGIf0
Courses– eg. Community Learning Program run by Victoria Native Friendship Center https://vnfc.ca/community-action-and-learning/#community-program
Take a tour– eg. https://www.exploresonghees.com/
Internet offerings–webinars, videos, articles… eg. https://indiginews.com/first-person/invasive-plants-affect-our-way-of-life-heres-how-we-can-lessen-the-impacts
Movies–Bones of Crows is on now at a theater near you.
This June, we urge you and your member organization to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day and learn during National Indigenous History Month.
