2024 National Indigenous Peoples Day

In the lead-up to this year’s National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21, the Des Nedhe Human Resources team have put together an activity list for the Saskatoon area that anyone can participate in.

June 21, 2024 is National Indigenous Peoples Day, this is a day of recognizing and celebrating the cultures and contributions of the First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples of Canada.

Every year, there are numerous activities organized across the country on June 21 to showcase the richness and diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Metis culture and stories. We encourage all of you to join together to enjoy Indigenous heritage, culture, food and music, activities and opportunities for connection. This day gives us all a chance to recognize the many achievements of the country’s Indigenous peoples.

What is the timeline for National Indigenous Peoples Day?

In 1876 the Indian Act was passed, this act took away the rights of the Indigenous people to self-govern, and instead forced them to follow the rules of the federal government. In 1960, Indigenous people were finally granted the right to vote. In 1982, The National Indian Brotherhood called for June 21^st to be recognized as National Solidarity Day. In 1995, the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples recommended that National First Peoples Day be initiated. Finally, National Indigenous Peoples Day was formally recognized in 1996 and this began paving the way for outsiders to more fully explore the land and culture.

We at Des Nedhe encourage you to participate in National Indigenous Peoples Day in your own way. There are many events planned if you live in Saskatoon that can provide you with some of the culture and achievements of Indigenous Peoples. 

Below is a list of events happening in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan:

Rock Your Roots Walk for Reconciliation – gather in Victoria Park at 10:00am on June 21. This walk will follow a path close to the river with artists performing along the route.

National Indigenous Peoples Day Celebrations at Wanuskewin. 2024 Theme: Traditional Games – 9:30am – 4:00pm. There are activities through the day that include, guided walks and programming through the valley, traditional games stations, Powwow dancers and music presentations throughout the day in the Ampitheatre, hide tanning and teachings, scavenger hunts and more!

Batoche National Historic Site – Parks Canada – The Gabriel Dumont Institute, Friends of Batoche, and Batoche National Historic Site-Parks Canada invite everyone to Batoche on June 21, the site is open from 9am – 5pm during which visitors can be at the visitor centre, on a guided tour, or on a hike. There is a formal program on June 21 from 11am – 2pm.

Remai Modern – Special Events starting at 10am – 7pm. There will be tobacco tie learning activities, a youth showcase with performances, and special performances by Eekwol with DJ Too Late and Big Tones with a live band.

If you are unable to attend events in person where you are currently living and working, we encourage you to celebrate by taking some personal time to read about Indigenous Peoples, go for lunch or dinner with your Indigenous friends or family or listen to a podcast.

Have a wonderful National Indigenous Peoples Day!

The beautiful image above was sourced from the Athabasca Denesuline Education Authority.

Marci Cho