Each June, we celebrate National Indigenous History Month to celebrate and honour the history, heritage and diversity of Indigenous Peoples from coast to coast and across Turtle Island (now referred to as North America).

National Indigenous History Month was created in 2009 in the House of Commons to highlight the achievements of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples throughout Canada. This month celebrates Indigenous culture, recognizes the contributions made by Indigenous Peoples, and acknowledges the acts of revitalization and resurgence that are happening within Indigenous Communities. As illustrated in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Report, celebrating Indigenous achievement is an important piece in Reconciliation.

As part of our efforts towards Reconciliation in Halton, Regional staff have been working to build and foster meaningful and reciprocal relationships with Indigenous Peoples, Communities and First Nations based on cultural understanding, empathy and mutual respect. This includes our efforts with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, in partnership with Ogimaa Stacey LaForme.

Celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21

On June 21, we celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day, a chance for everyone to learn more about the unique heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples.

Resources available to learn more

To celebrate National Indigenous History Month, I encourage you to explore resources to learn more about Indigenous History by:

• enrolling in the free online course Indigenous Canada by the University of Alberta;
• taking a virtual tour of the Woodland Cultural Centre, a former Residential School that is now a museum;
• visiting the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation’s website for resources about the Residential School System;
• finding stories and experiences told by women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ through the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls website;
• reading books from Indigenous Authors, including:
  • Thomas King’s The Inconvenient Indian
  • Bob Joseph’s 21 Things You may Not Know About the Indian Act
  • Tanya Talaga’s All Our Relations
  • Ogimaa R. Stacey Laforme’s Living in the Tall Grass: Poems of Reconciliation
  • Sheila Watt-Cloutier’s The Right to be Cold
• watching films or documentaries, including:
  • Trick or Treaty?
  • Reel Injun
  • Indian Horse

You can also join the conversation online by using the hashtag #NIHM2022.

For more information about Halton’s ongoing work to build meaningful relationships with Indigenous People and Communities, please visit halton.ca. By celebrating National Indigenous History Month this June, we honour all Indigenous Peoples and recognize their many contributions to making Halton a great place to live, work, raise a family and retire.