Bulletin
Monday, June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day
June 18, 2021
To: All MoveUP members
This Monday, June 21, marks National Indigenous Peoples Day. This year marks the 25th anniversary of celebrating the heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding achievements of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.
Sadly, this year we are also marking the occasion in the shadow of the news of the discovery of the remains of 215 Indigenous children at the former Kamloops Indian residential school site and the news of more remains being discovered at different sites since then.
We hope all of you will take the time to recognize National Indigenous Peoples Day and to learn more about the path towards truth and reconciliation. We have put together some resource links and events below.
You can also download a Zoom background to use as well here. The background, which is also available from the Canadian government website in its original format, combines various visual elements illustrating Indigenous cultures with the sun (the summer solstice) at the centre.
The four elements of nature (earth, water, fire and air) are represented in the image, while the icons represent different Indigenous communities and their members. The eagle represents First Nations peoples, the narwhal represents the Inuit peoples, and the violin represents the Métis peoples.
The entire visual is supported by a multiculoured smoke to remind us of Indigenous spirituality but also the colours of the rainbow as a symbol of inclusion and diversity.
You can learn more about the design here.
Resources:
About National Indigenous Peoples Day
Surrey National Indigenous Peoples Day Virtual Celebration
3rd Annual Tears to Hope Relay (Virtual 5K or 10K – June 26 & 27)
Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival (June 1 to 21)
Canadian Labour Action Call for Action – Justice for First Nations, Inuit and Métis
Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada 94 Calls to Action
Yellowhead Institute – Calls to Action Accountability
Virtual Workshops – Click here for more information and to register:
Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Being – June 21
National Indigenous History Month – Honouring Wellness – June 22
Support residential school survivors and their families:
Indian Residential School Survivors Society
Woodland Cultural Centre’s Save the Evidence campaign
National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
First Nations Child & Family Caring Society
Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund
In solidarity,
Christy Slusarenko & Gunter Seifert
Co-chairs, Human Rights & Multicultural Committee
