Today is National Indigenous Peoples Day, proclaimed by the federal government in 1996 as recommended by the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples.
First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples have shaped this country as workers, through the arts and culture, and through resistance—struggles for rights, justice, and recognition.
We are now engaged in the ongoing work of Truth and Reconciliation. Exactly what that means and what it will take is still being worked out, but we are on the road. Today is a good day to reflect, celebrate, and re-commit to that process. It can be difficult: it requires honesty and openness. It involves facing a painful and complex legacy. Indigenous and non-Indigenous people share our histories and we must shape our future together.
Every year there are events on Parliament Hill in Ottawa and across the country where Indigenous and non-Indigenous people can share, learn, and celebrate.
How to Participate
If you can take time to attend, this listing may help you locate events in your community.
You can use the hashtags #NIPD2026 and #NIHM2026 to be a part of the discussion online and find more resources.
At any time, you may also embark on Walking in our Truth Together, a course created by PSAC to help members seek justice and reconciliation through a deeper understanding of Indigenous histories, rights, and resilience.
