National Indigenous Peoples Day

What you need to know

June is National Indigenous History Month, and June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day. Learn about:

Signed proclamation (493 KB)

The Governor General of Canada proclaimed June 21 as National Indigenous Peoples Day in 1996, an occasion for Canadians to come together, reflect on and celebrate the unique heritage, traditions, and knowledge of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples.

We formally acknowledge that we are on the unceded traditional homelands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations and we are deeply grateful for those who have continued to inhabit and steward these lands every day since time immemorial.

The contributions of Indigenous Peoples to Vancouver’s past, present, and future are profound but often not well recognized. First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples make vital contributions to advancing arts, culture, equity, safety, and community well-being throughout the city of Vancouver. We are grateful for the contributions of Urban Indigenous community members, past, present, and future, in shaping our city.

Artwork created by Candace Rose Thomas

Artist bio

The artwork for National Indigenous Peoples Day 2023 was created by Candace Rose Thomas, who is a proud member of the səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nation and a part of the Coast Salish community of artists. She takes great pride in her heritage and artistic abilities. Inspired by her great-grandfather, the late Chief Dan George, Candy has nurtured her talent since a young age and has dedicated herself to her artwork. Her connection to the land and waters surrounding her home community is profound, providing her with strength and serving as a constant source of inspiration for her unique designs.

Candy also holds a deep connection to the Downtown Eastside community. In 2017, she embarked on a recovery journey, which received tremendous support from the Downtown Eastside Connections Clinic. This experience has played a crucial role in her healing process. Through her involvement in the səlilwətaɬ community, Candy maintains a strong connection with her ancestors, whom she believes guide her on the path to maintaining good health and happiness.

With a passionate desire to inspire younger generations, Candy hopes to encourage them to embrace their artistic talents. She urges them to pick up a paintbrush or a coloured pencil and express themselves through art, just as she does. By sharing their artistic abilities, Candy believes that the younger generation can make their voices heard and contribute to the rich artistic legacy of their community.

Celebrate Indigenous cultures at Carnegie Community Centre street party on National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21, 1pm to 4pm

We invite the public to commemorate National Indigenous Peoples Day by joining in the Carnegie Community Centre celebrations starting at 1pm at the 400 block of Main Street.

Main Street, between East Hastings and East Pender, will be closed for the celebration, offering a stage for cultural performances, community organization table, and opportunities for the public from all over Vancouver and the DTES to gather and celebrate together. 

There will be a variety of giveaways and performances – including crafts, medicines, smudging, and pop-up performances from Muttdog, Carnegie’s lexwst’i:lem drum group, Big Drum with John Sam, dancer Larissa Healey, and more cultural sharing performances.

Learn more about the event

Flags to honour Host Nations and Indigenous Peoples

For the month of June we’re flying 16 Indigenous flags on City Hall’s flag island at 12th Ave and Cambie Street. Flags from the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Indian Band, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Nation, səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nation will fly next to the National Indigenous Peoples Day 2023 flag designed by Candace Rose Thomas, in recognition that we are located on these Nations’ traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories.

Additional flags that will fly are:

  • National Indigenous Peoples Day Flag 2022 – original design by Sam McKay
  • Metis Nation Flag
  • Every Child Matters Flag
  • Indian Residential School Survivors Society Flag
  • No More Stolen Sisters Flag Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Flag (original design by Skundaal)
  • Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Flag
  • Inclusive Pride Flag/Progress Flag
  • Greater Vancouver Native Cultural Society Flag
  • xʷməθkʷəy̓əm Two-Spirit Flag
  • Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nation Pride Flag
  • səlilwətaɬ Nation Rainbow Flag
  • Metro Vancouver Aboriginal Executive Council Flag

Collective mourning for Indigenous children who never returned home

Canada’s Indian residential school system and other ongoing colonial structures and policies continue to cause deep-rooted grief, trauma, and loss. Since the confirmation of Le Estcwicwéy (The Missing) at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School on May 23, 2021, it has been a time of reckoning with the truth of the Indian residential school legacy, with confirmations of hundreds of unmarked graves in communities across the country. We stand with all Indigenous people who continue to experience the devastating impacts of Canada’s Indian residential school system and remain committed to working with  xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səlilwətaɬ Nations to develop a permanent memorial in honour of all those impacted.

As a City of Reconciliation, we remain committed to guiding our work with the 94 Calls to Action identified by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, in particular the calls to action identified in the 2016 Council report on Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action, and the recommendations outlined in the MMIWG2S Response Report (1.7 MB), adopted by City Council in 2022. 

Resources for Indigenous Peoples

How you can listen, learn, act

All settlers on this land have a responsibility to understand and address the ongoing impacts of colonization. We encourage residents to learn more about First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities with the following resources: