Sunrise ceremonies, cultural festivals, and community events across Canada mark the celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Day

Songs and drumbeats echoed along the shoreline as the sun rose over the Atlantic Ocean on Saturday morning(June 22). About 40 people gathered near Louisbourg to take part in a Mi’kmaw sunrise ceremony, led by residential school survivor and Eskasoni First Nation Elder Lottie Johnson, marking the beginning of National Indigenous Peoples Day across Canada.

“It’s a very special time. It’s quiet, and as the sun comes up, you see the creation of the creator,” Johnson said. “Everything is so beautiful, and it’s like almost-new again. That’s where you get the hope and the will to go on.”

Why is National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrated?

The day, celebrated annually on June 21, the summer solstice, honors the history, cultures, and achievements of First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities. First recognized in 1996, the national event now includes hundreds of community-led gatherings and ceremonies.

National Indigenous Peoples Day was first proclaimed by the former Governor General, Roméo LeBlanc, in 1996. It is a statutory holiday in the Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut, and is increasingly recognized as a vital part of Canada's broader journey toward truth and reconciliation.

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s statement

Prime Minister Mark Carney issued a statement reaffirming the federal government's commitment to reconciliation as he said, “Supporting Indigenous communities, advancing self-determination, implementing treaties, and creating generational wealth and prosperity are central to our commitment. The government will work in full partnership with Indigenous Peoples advancing shared priorities such as health care, food security, housing, education, economic prosperity, conservation, climate action and emergency management.”

Celebration across the country

In Winnipeg, the Forks hosted the opening of Many Nations, One Heartbeat, an 11-day cultural festival featuring Indigenous music, fashion, games, and crafts. Organizers said the festival also honors communities displaced by ongoing wildfires in Manitoba.

In Vancouver, the Tsleil-Waututh Nation unveiled a six-metre house post by artist Zac George outside the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. The city also hosted its third annual Downtown Eastside block party, transforming East Hastings Street into a celebration of Indigenous art, food, and performance.

The North Slave Métis Alliance in Yellowknife served freshly caught whitefish from Great Slave Lake at a community fish fry, while in Whitehorse, residents enjoyed a jigging contest and bannock bake-off at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre.

Governor General Mary Simon of Ottawa welcomed youth to Rideau Hall, where they planted heart-shaped messages in a memorial “heart garden” to honor victims and survivors of residential schools. “Each heart is a symbol of our collective responsibility,” her office said.

Celebrations were also held in Toronto, Montreal, Saskatoon, Regina, St. John’s, Charlottetown, and beyond, often featuring powwows, music, dancing, and traditional ceremonies.