National Aboriginal Day

National Aboriginal Day or First Nations Day (also known as the National Aboriginal Day of Prayer) is celebrated each year on 21st June, which is also usually the date of the Summer Solstice (not without significance to the indigenous peoples).

The day is about celebrating the gifts of indigenous people and giving thanks to God who has created the diversities of peoples of the world, and gifted Aboriginal peoples of Canada with many treasures of wisdom, spirit and vision.

It is a very new celebration, being inaugurated in 1996. It is celebrated across Canada in all churches. It is also the first of four "Celebrate Canada" days which take place in the space of 11 days, culminating in Canada Day on 1st July.

First Nations is a term used in Canada (and to some extent in the US) to describe the indigenous people of North America who are neither Metis nor Inuit in origin, and their descendants. Collectively, the Metis, Inuit and First Nation people are known as Aboriginal, First or Indigenous peoples, nations or bands.

First Nation people have been referred to by many other names including First Canadians, Native Americans, Indians, Aboriginal Americans, Native Canadians, Autochthones (a French-Canadian word) and Amerindians. Officially, if they are entitled to benefits under the Indian Act, the Canadian Government refers to them as Registered Indians.

Nearly all of the terms and names detailed above are controversial within some elements of the communities they are meant to embrace.

There remains much political and economic debate relating to the treatment of indigenous peoples within Canada, historically and through to this day.

Much has and is being done to rectify wrongs of the past and to establish fair and equitable solutions to long standing grievances.

If you're looking for a way to commemorate this event, you might be interested in this article: Commemorations with Cross Stitch

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