indigenous – Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary School Library

National Indigenous Peoples Day

“June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day. This is a day for all Canadians to recognize and celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. The Canadian Constitution recognizes these three groups as Aboriginal peoples, also known as Indigenous peoples.

Although these groups share many similarities, they each have their own distinct heritage, language, cultural practices and spiritual beliefs.

In cooperation with Indigenous organizations, the Government of Canada chose June 21, the summer solstice, for National Aboriginal Day, now known as National Indigenous Peoples Day. For generations, many Indigenous peoples and communities have celebrated their culture and heritage on or near this day due to the significance of the summer solstice as the longest day of the year.”

Find out more:

Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada

Indigenous Peoples and Communities

Indigenous arts, culture and heritage

National Indigenous History Month

June is a chance to celebrate and learn more about the Indigenous people of Canada. Come down to your school library and check out these resources from the Indigenous Peoples Collection

Indigenous Peoples Collection

Celebrate National Indigenous History Month in Canada by learning more about First Nations, Metis and Inuit people. Come down to your School Library to browse through our Indigenous Peoples Collection. This section of the School Library is devoted to titles from authentic indigenous writers.

All titles in the Indigenous Peoples Collection are designated with spine labels bearing the “IPC” prefix. Sublocations in the IPC include:

Coast Salish
Northwest Coast
First Nations
Inuit
Metis
Urban
Global
Own Voice
Truth and Reconciliation

and more…

June is National Indigenous History Month in Canada.

National Indigenous Peoples Day

From the Government of Canada:

Although these groups share many similarities, they each have their own distinct heritage, language, cultural practices and spiritual beliefs.

Find out more:

Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada

Indigenous Peoples and Communities

Indigenous arts, culture and heritage

Indigenous Peoples Collection

Come into the School Library to check out our newly established Indigenous Peoples Collection. This section of the School Library is devoted to titles from authentic indigenous writers.

All titles in the Indigenous Peoples Collection are designated with spine labels bearing the “IPC” prefix. Sublocations in the IPC include:

Coast Salish
Northwest Coast
First Nations
Inuit
Metis
Urban
Global
Own Voice
Truth and Reconciliation

and more…

June is National Indigenous History Month in Canada.

First Peoples in Residence

The School Library is pleased to participate in the inaugural First Peoples in Residence program at LTSS. We welcome District Indigenous Cultural Facilitators Becky Parker, Nanette Jackson and Leo Linklater. All week long our students and staff will have the opportunity to learn more about First Peoples culture, history, art, music, worldviews, ways of being, and more.

National Indigenous Peoples Day

June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day in Canada, and a focal point of Indigenous History Month.

In 2021 we observe this day with a particular grief, as we mourn those children whose bodies were found in a mass unmarked grave at the site of a former Residential School in Kamloops. We grieve for the parents who never got to see those children come home from Residential School. We grieve for the generations of indigenous people who suffered, and still suffer, great trauma from the Residential School system. We grieve for our country, which will never be whole while the hard work of truth and reconciliation remains ahead of us.

We try at the same time, however, to use this day to celebrate the rich and beautiful lives of Indigenous people, their culture, history, art, wisdom, and more. We celebrate our First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples as Canadians. And most of all, together we celebrate our shared humanity.

Find out more:

Canada.ca: National Indigenous Peoples Day

National Indigenous History Month

June is National Indigenous History Month, highlighted by National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21. Visit us in the school library, live or online, and join with us as we celebrate and learn more about First Nations, Inuit and Metis history.

Louis Riel Day

Today the people of British Columbia observe Louis Riel Day. The government of BC and the Métis people of the province have expressed a “commitment to work together for the betterment of Métis people throughout British Columbia.” (source.) As a symbol of this, the province has declared November 16 to be Louis Riel Day, in honour of the historical hero of the Métis people.

Louis Riel led the Métis in the Red River Rebellion and the North-West Rebellion of the late 19th Century. Riel was captured, tried and found guilty of treason, and was executed by the Canadian government on November 16, 1885. Even then his death was extremely divisive. Not only did the Métis express outrage at the execution of their leader, so too did many French Canadians who saw Riel as a champion of the rights of French speakers in Canada. In the years since his death many have come to see Riel as a hero, a symbol of resistance against the oppression of the indigenous people of this land, and as the champion of the Métis.

Find out more:

Emily Carr

On this day in 1871, Emily Carr, an iconic figure in Canadian art and culture, was born in Victoria. Emily Carr is known all over the world, particularly for her paintings inspired by the forests of British Columbia and the indigenous people of Pacific coast. In addition to painting, Emily was also a writer and poet. Like most artists, she achieved her greatest fame and critical recognition later in life and after her death. For more on the life and work of this great Canadian, go to: