Six Nations Polytechnic

National Indigenous Peoples Day is always much more than a single day.

Our Senior Researcher at Deyohahá:ge: Indigenous Knowledge Centre, Taylor Gibson could tell you much more; but here’s a quick look at some of the history behind it.

1945: Jules Sioui declared what he called “Indian Day” (not recognized governmentally)
1968: National Indian Brotherhood (NIB) is formed
1969: Pierre Trudeau and Jean Chrétien release the White Paper
1970: Harold Cardinal and the Indian Association of Alberta respond with the Red Paper, later adopted by the NIB
1972: NIB releases the Indian Control of Indian Education, a landmark policy that led to band-controlled schools and contributed to the eventual closure of many residential schools
1979: NIB delegation protests constitutional patriation in England, contributing to the inclusion of Section 35 in the 1982 Constitution Act
1979: NIB becomes the Assembly of First Nations (AFN)
1990: Oka Crisis
1995: Ipperwash Crisis
1995: Elijah Harper's (known for blocking the Meech Lake Accord) Sacred Assembly calls for a National Aboriginal Day
1996: Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (RCAP) recommends a National Day of Recognition; June 21 is proclaimed National Aboriginal Day
2017: Justin Trudeau’s federal government adopts the term National Indigenous Peoples Day, even though Parliament did not pass the renaming bill (C-369)

While the original intention of National Aboriginal Day emerged from First Nations political solidarity, the later inclusion of other groups of Indigenous Peoples reflected federal pressure to create a single, unified category rather than acknowledging the distinct nationhood of each people.

On National Indigenous Peoples Day, we celebrate the diversity of all individual Nations and communities across Turtle Island.

Share/comment below:
🪶 What Nation or community are you from?
🪶 What do you wish more people knew about your nation or community?

www.snpolytechnic.com