Acknowledging and honouring Indigenous people on June 21st and every day

June is Indigenous History Month in Canada – an opportunity and important reminder for all Canadians to acknowledge and learn about the history and challenges of Indigenous people (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis), as well as honour and celebrate Indigenous culture, diversity, strength, and resiliency.

During this month and on Indigenous Peoples Day, Indigenous people across Canada celebrate their ancestry, roots, and culture – in part, to revitalize and reclaim them. For non-Indigenous people, it’s also crucial to understand Canada’s history, which precedes confederation (and colonization) by nearly 14,000 years and that, for most of us, wasn’t taught in school. Further, it’s an opportunity for everyone to learn about and celebrate the richness and diversity of Indigenous culture.

Indigenous Peoples Day takes place on summer solstice each year (June 21) – the longest day of the year, which is a traditional time to celebrate for many Indigenous communities and peoples. We encourage you to learn more about the history and what led to the creation of Indigenous Peoples Day.

We at Jouta have had the honour of working with more than 100 Indigenous communities and organizations. During this time, we’ve built many relationships, listened to many stories, and learned much about Indigenous challenges and accomplishments on Turtle Island (the lands we now call North America). We’re also aware that we have much to learn on what we see as a continuous journey.

We invite you to read our 2022 post where we share a brief glimpse into the realities that Indigenous people experience in the workplace and how employers can attract, support, and retain them, and also recognize Indigenous Peoples Day. As for how you (individually and/or with your teams) acknowledge and celebrate the day, there are many regional events happening. Below are links to just a few of these and we encourage you to find out what’s happening in your local community.

Events in BC as outlined by Indigenous Tourism BC and others
Events in Alberta per Indigenous Tourism Alberta
Events in Ontario as described by To Do Ontario

In addition, as July 1^st is right around the corner, we invite you to reflect upon what Canada Day means for you, given the oppression of Indigenous people related specifically to confederation and colonization. Here too is an opportunity to celebrate living in Canada – our beautiful home – while also recognizing and honouring Indigenous history and culture. As you do so, in solidarity, consider wearing orange instead of red.

Jouta’s HR Consultants acknowledge and honour Canada’s Indigenous people on June 21^st and every day.