National Indigenous People's Day is Monday, June 21st. For centuries, many of the first inhabitants would celebrate the arrival of the warm weather and the pleasures of the summer solstice. The summer solstice is the day of the year with the longest light. It is a day with spiritual significance for many.

National Indigenous Peoples Day is for all Canadians so please share in the celebrations organized across the country every year. Locally, the Kingston National Indigenous Peoples Day (KNIPD) committee organizes a community celebration on the traditional territories of the Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee: Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Please visit their facebook page for updates on the online celebration!

A few other ways to start your learning journey include reading, listening, watching and trying - explore more here! For a deeper dive, explore L&A Libraries' curated list of suggested reads. You may also enjoy the National Film Board’s online collection of Indigenous-made movies. 

Test your knowledge of Indigenous Peoples with this Kahoot! trivia quiz created by L&A Libraries.

The Celebrating Indigenous Peoples in Canada activity guide has trivia, games and crafts for kids. Download the entire guide or try one of the activities shared below:

We encourage you to chat with a person who is knowledgeable about Indigenous traditions to plan activities that you and your family and friends can celebrate. Why not contact one of many Indigenous Peoples Month Proclamation past recipients in this area including:

2011: Katarokwi Alternative School

2012: Katarokwi Native Friendship Centre

2013: Weeneebayko Patient Services | Hotel Dieu Hospital

2014: Metis Nation of Ontario

2015: Four Directions Aboriginal Student Centre

2016: South East Regional Cancer Program

2017: Ontario Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Strategy/HIV AIDS Regional Services - HARS 

2018: Kingston Indigenous Language Nest