06/19/2026
This Sunday, June 21, is National Indigenous Peoples Day (NIPD), falling within National Indigenous Peoples Month. It is also the summer solstice, a day that has been a time to gather in celebration and which holds cultural significance for many Indigenous communities.
NIPD began as National Aboriginal Day in 1996, with a name change to National Indigenous Peoples Day in 2017. NIPD is a day of celebration for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. It’s an opportunity to celebrate Indigenous resilience and resurgence.
More than a concept, resurgence is a living, breathing movement grounded in culture, community, and connection to land. It’s about Indigenous people reclaiming language, ceremony, land, food systems, and governance in ways that reflect their own values and knowledge, not colonial expectations. When you attend local events on Sunday, you are witnessing and supporting this resurgence.
Whether it’s joining a community celebration, listening to an Elder speak, watching a dance performance, or supporting Indigenous vendors and artists, showing up with openness and respect helps strengthen these ongoing efforts. These events are not just commemorative; they are expressions of sovereignty, joy, resistance, and cultural continuity.
By participating, you are not only learning; you are also standing alongside communities who are actively creating futures rooted in Indigenous strength, knowledge, and wisdom.
Join the celebration this weekend at one of many events. Find one near you on the Indigenous Tourism BC website: https://www.indigenousbc.com/stories/national-indigenous-history-month-and-peoples-day/?.
