National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations may look different this year, but creativity and imagination can provide many options for marking the occasion.

For generations, many Indigenous peoples and communities have celebrated their culture and heritage on or near this date due to the significance of the summer solstice as the longest day of the year. Having a National Indigenous Peoples Day reminds all Canadians to celebrate the heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Metis.

One way to learn more is to read a digital copy of one of the books from the #IndigenousReads reading list. Virtual activities are available as well, such as museum exhibits. Social media is a great source to find Indigenous musicians, comedians and historians. In one Grey-Bruce town, local businesses have partnered with a young Indigenous woman and have created displays of her First Nations regalia and collection of First Nations art as a way to mark the occasion.

In this current climate of increased awareness and calls to action to end systemic racial violence, Women’s House Serving Bruce & Grey takes this opportunity to express support for the recommendations of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Inquiry.

The final report of the Inquiry was published in June 2019 and includes many calls to action. Among them, the need to address the root causes of the disproportionate violence against Indigenous women and girls, the need for preventative action, and improved responses from the justice system.

This fundamental report, made possible through the truths and impacts on thousands of survivors, family members and experts, continues to sit in waiting for the Federal government to respond with action. The failure to implement a timely response perpetuates the ongoing systemic oppression of Indigenous women and girls. It is time to show national solidarity in addressing the Inquiry’s recommendations, and support Indigenous peoples working to eradicate violence against women and girls.

We encourage each other to educate ourselves, read the report and find ways to be allies in this most important struggle.

source: media release, Women's House Serving Bruce & Grey