National Indigenous Peoples Day & Summer Solstice
June 21
The summer solstice of 2025 will fall on June 21, which is also National Indigenous Peoples Day. This day is a celebration of the cultural heritage, traditions, and knowledge of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples.
On June 21st, we pay special attention to National Indigenous People’s Day, a day for all Canadians to honour and celebrate the legacy, diverse cultures and exceptional contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples. Although these groups share many similarities, it is important to acknowledge that they each have their own unique heritage, language, cultural traditions, and spiritual beliefs. National Indigenous Peoples Day was formerly known as National Aboriginal Day when it was established in 1996 through a proclamation signed by then Governor General of Canada, Roméo LeBlanc.
In collaboration with Indigenous organizations, the Government of Canada chose June 21st, the summer solstice, for National Indigenous Peoples Day in recognition of its cultural, historical, and spiritual significance.
While this day is recognized as a statutory holiday in the Northwest Territories and Yukon, it is not yet a statutory holiday in the rest of Canada.