National Indigenous Peoples Day

Jun 20, 2025

June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day, a time to recognize and celebrate the history, cultures, and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples across Canada. It is also a day to reflect on the responsibilities we all share in advancing truth, reconciliation, and the protection of human rights.

In Mi’kma’ki, the unceded and ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaq people, this day holds particular meaning. The Mi’kmaq are signatories to the Treaties of Peace and Friendship, signed in the 18th century between the British Crown and the Mi’kmaq, Wolastoqey, and Passamaquoddy peoples. Unlike land treaties elsewhere in Canada, these agreements did not surrender land, but instead outlined ongoing relationships based on mutual respect, coexistence, and shared responsibilities.

These Treaties remain living agreements, affirmed in the Canadian Constitution and upheld in law. They are central to understanding Indigenous rights today and serve as a foundation for honourable relations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. Respecting these Treaties is not only a legal obligation but a moral imperative - one that is fundamental to the promotion and protection of human rights in Canada.

On this day, we are reminded that Indigenous rights are human rights. Access to clean water, education, health care, self-determination and justice - too often denied to Indigenous communities - must be seen as essential to achieving equity and dignity for all.

National Indigenous Peoples Day is more than a celebration - it is a call to action. As individuals and institutions in Mi’kma’ki, we are called to learn from the past, honour the Treaties, and uphold the rights of Indigenous Peoples—today and every day. Reconciliation requires commitment, respect, and a shared vision for a just future rooted in truth and human rights.

The preceding is a statement from Joseph Fraser, Director & CEO of the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission.

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