June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day, a day for all Canadians to recognize and celebrate the heritage, diverse cultures and contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.

This year, Canadians will celebrate the heritage and culture of Indigenous Peoples a little differently. Due to COVID-19, many celebrations will be experienced at home and virtually to keep families and communities safe. There are many ways to celebrate at home, and to support this, the Federal Government has added more resources to their website in honour of National Indigenous Peoples Day. You can learn more about the unique heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples by reading a digital copy of one the books from the #IndigenousReads reading list or explore a virtual exhibit at your favourite museum. I encourage you to use the hashtag #NIPDCanada on social media to share your at-home or virtual celebration.

To recognize this important day, Halton Region will raise the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation flag at the Halton Regional Centre on June 19. By recognizing southern Ontario’s rich Indigenous history, we honour all Indigenous Peoples and celebrate their many contributions to making Halton a great place to live, work, raise a family and retire.

To learn more about Indigenous Peoples including their diverse heritage and history, I encourage you to visit the Federal Governments website for videos and activity guides as you celebrate this important day.