National Indigenous Peoples Day is a time to recognize and celebrate the history, heritage, resilience and diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis across Canada. The day was established in 1996 following concerted advocacy efforts and calls for the creation of such a day by the National Indian Brotherhood (now called the Assembly of First Nations), the Sacred Assembly and the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. The date was chosen because many Indigenous groups have long celebrated their culture and heritage on or around June 21 due to the significance of the summer solstice.

National Indigenous Peoples Day offers an opportunity to not only celebrate Indigenous Peoples, but also to reflect on how our programs and institutions can better serve Indigenous youth and families. To learn more about the impact of racism on children, see Vol. 15, No. 3 of the Children’s Mental Health Research Quarterly.