National Indigenous Peoples Day

Sunday, June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day.

Respective to the conversations we are having about racial violence right now, it is crucial that we continue to include the long history of injustice towards Indigenous people in Canada and the inequities and colonial violence they still experience today. This year marks five years since the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada released its final report on the history and ongoing impacts of the abuse and trauma Indigenous children experienced in Canada’s residential school system.

We are continuing to pause our Distant, Not Disengaged event programming to reflect as a team and do internal work to ensure our events and organizational practices contribute to dismantling racism against Black people, Indigenous people and all people of colour. Next week, rather than hosting an event of our own to recognize National Indigenous Peoples Day, we are going to put our efforts toward honouring and engaging with the work of Indigenous people. We invite you to join us in doing so. Here are some ideas:

National Indigenous Peoples Day Resources

Events

Here are several free online events taking place next week (all times in PT):

• Soaring Spirits: A Collection of Indigenous Short Films – Hamilton Film Festival | June 17 at 4:00 pm
• A Gathering of Indigenous Storytellers – Vancouver Public Library | June 18 at 3:00 pm
• A Witnessed Sharing Circle With Afro-Indigenous Advocates: Racism, Solidarity and Collective Futures – Future Ancestors Services | June 18 at 3:00 pm
• Resistance and Resurgence: Decolonization in a Time of “Reconciliation” – Feminists Deliver | June 18 at 4:00 pm
• 2020 Indigenous Voices Awards Virtual Gala | June 21 at 4:00 pm

The Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival’s Virtual Edition features a variety of online events and activities taking place from now until June 21.

Register for Stratagem Virtual, an online conference on diversity and inclusion taking place through July, with add-on workshops taking place June 22-26. See the full schedule – some of the sessions with an Indigenous focus include Decolonizing Practices on July 4 and Real Talks on Global Indigenous Perspectives on July 5.

Books/Reading

Here are some lists of books by Indigenous writers for readers of all ages:

• #IndigenousReads reading list
• 108 Indigenous writers to read
• 20 Canadian books for kids and teens to read for National Indigenous History Month
• E-books and other media available from the SFU Library

Decolonizing Practices has a recommended reading list and even educational memes you can share.

Explore the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (start with the executive summary and the calls to action).

Activities

• Learning and activity guide for children: Celebrating Indigenous Peoples in Canada
• Learn how to make fry bread with the #FryBreadFriday video series
• 11 Ways to Virtually Celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day – includes recommendations for podcasts, films, music, comedy and more
• Stream full episodes of TV shows from APTN
• Decolonizing Practices offers resources including a workbook (Decolonize First: A Liberating Guide and Workbook for Peeling Back the Layers of Neocolonialism), a four-week online seminar on the workbook that begins on June 30, and a board game (Sínulkhay and Ladders).