Tom Henihan
Express Staff
First celebrated in 1996, National Indigenous Peoples Day, which was formerly call National Aboriginal Day, is a day to celebrate the cultures and traditions, the food, dances, drumming, singing, languages, arts, sports and spiritual practices of Canada’s First Nations, Métis and Inuit people.
Canada’s National Indigenous Peoples Day is officially celebrated on the June 21, which is the summer solstice, a time when many indigenous peoples in Canada have traditionally celebrated their heritage.
National Indigenous Peoples Day is a day for all Canadians to share with Indigenous communities in celebrating the history, culture and accomplishments of Canada’s First Nations, Métis and Inuit people.
Ecole Providence celebrated National Indigenous Peoples Day beginning following assembly with students forming teams to compete in bone foot throw, sling ball, seal crawl, walrus push and pull game.
Following a traditional lunch of bannock and stew, the afternoon was dedicated to a native hand game tournament and some students participated in learning native dancing instructed by the video, pow wow Sweat.
Last year, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised to rename the Nation Aborigingal Day to National Indigenous Peoples Day, a proposal welcomed by Assembly of First Nations National Chief, Perry Bellegarde.
The AFN Chief supported the name change saying it was consistent with the language used in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
