May 31st, 2022

This June, the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) is celebrating National Indigenous History Month and National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21.

National Indigenous History Month and National Indigenous Peoples Day offer important opportunities to recognize the cultural diversity and distinct contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples who have been silenced and ignored in the formation of what we now call Canada.

This commitment must extend beyond a day or a month. Learning about Indigenous ways of knowing, hosting interactive events, and inviting Indigenous voices in various ways into the classroom are all ways to prioritize the perspectives of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples that have often been marginalized.

National Indigenous History Month

June is National Indigenous History Month, in recognition of the strength, long history, deep traditional knowledge, and enduring presence of Indigenous Nations across the land.

To support learning and celebrations related to Indigenous History Month at the WRDSB, the Indigenous Learning Team is developing a series of virtual guest speaker opportunities guided by the theme: “Indigenous Pathmakers: Strength for Today and Hope for Tomorrow.” Resources to support the learning continue to be shared with staff.

National Indigenous Peoples Day

National Indigenous Peoples Day falls on June 21st each year. This is a day for everyone to recognize and celebrate the heritage, diverse cultures, and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples. In cooperation with Indigenous organizations, the Government of Canada chose June 21 as National Indigenous Peoples Day (formerly known as National Aboriginal Day) because of the cultural significance of the summer solstice and the day with the longest period of daylight.

National Indigenous History Month and Pride Flag Raising Event

Joshua Whitehead

Keynote Speaker Joshua Whitehead

Staff and students have been invited to view a live stream on June 1st to kick off National Indigenous History Month and Pride Month at the WRDSB. The live stream will feature keynote speaker Joshua Whitehead and will be followed with a raising of the Pride flag.

Joshua Whitehead is an Oji-Cree, Two-Spirit storyteller and academic from Peguis First Nation on Treaty 1 territory in Manitoba. He is an Associate Professor of Indigenous Studies and English at the University of Calgary on Treaty 7 territory. His debut novel for adults, Jonny Appleseed, has been recognized as the winner of Canada Reads 2021 and selections of his other works are featured on the Poetry in Voice website. He is the editor of Love after the End: an Anthology of Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer Speculative Fiction. His forthcoming book of non-fiction, Making Love with the Land is slated to release in August 2022. Whitehead writes both from and about his perspective and identity as a Two-Spirit Indiqueer storyteller.

Get Involved

National Indigenous Peoples Day – Government of Canada

June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day. Don’t miss the opportunity to celebrate and learn more about the cultural diversity of the First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples by participating in the many activities happening across Canada.

Learn more on the Government of Canada website.

Indigenous Day Live – APTN

On June 18, celebrate the summer solstice and National Indigenous Peoples Day with APTN Indigenous Day Live (IDL). This event showcases Indigenous artists and features multidisciplinary collaborations in English, French and a variety of Indigenous languages.

#IndigenousReads

#IndigenousReads encourages reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples through sharing literature written by First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. Find suggested books and supporting resources here.

Resources for Caregivers and Students

The WRDSB’s Indigenous Education Branch continues to provide a variety of resources to support both students and their families.

Help us celebrate Indigenous History Month. You can share your stories and pictures with us on Twitter at @wrdsb or on Instagram at @wr_dsb using the hashtag #IndigenousWRDSB.