Today, June 21 is the 25th annual National Indigenous Peoples Day. This important day celebrates the heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding achievements of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.
At Guelph-Humber, this day is traditionally a time for members of the community to celebrate the significant achievements of Indigenous people at the University – students, staff, and instructors. However, this is a unique year in challenging times. Many Indigenous and non-Indigenous people continue to be impacted by the discovery of the 215 children at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School in Kamloops, British Columbia. A vivid and heartbreaking reminder of the ongoing legacy and ripple effects of the residential school system in Canada. On a day that would typically be marked with celebrations, this year it is a much more somber, reflective mood on the truth and reconciliation work that must continue.
The substantial achievements of our Indigenous students and staff are a reminder of how the University of Guelph-Humber community is enriched by the opportunity to learn from the intellectual and cultural traditions from Indigenous cultures and histories.
Today on National Indigenous Peoples Day we recognize and celebrate the contributions of Indigenous peoples across Canada and acknowledge the need for us all to commit to further and ongoing reconciliation efforts.