November marks Indigenous Peoples Awareness Month, an opportunity for us to celebrate the culture, traditions, and heritage of Indigenous Peoples and Communities while continuing on our journey of Truth and Reconciliation (external link). Throughout the month of November, we honour the Indigenous leaders of the past and present while increasing our awareness of the Indigenous Voice.
Dates of significance
Dates of significance throughout this month include Treaties Recognition Week, National Indigenous Veterans Day and Louis Riel Day. These important days remind us of the immense contributions made by Indigenous Peoples in Canada. I encourage you to learn more about them.
Treaties Recognition Week commemorates the significance of treaties, encompassing treaty rights, responsibilities, and the connections between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. By recognizing and understanding their importance, we help to nurture relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples and work towards our commitment to Reconciliation, mutual respect and fairness.
National Indigenous Veterans Day commemorates the approximately 12,000 First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples who served in the World Wars, the Korean War and later conflicts. Today, more than 2,700 Indigenous members continue to serve in Canada's military forces. National Indigenous Veterans Day also sheds light on the significant military contributions made by Indigenous Peoples within Canada and acknowledges the historical disparity in the allocation of veteran rights and benefits among Indigenous survivors.
Louis Riel was a passionate Métis leader who helped to make Manitoba Canada’s fifth province, joining the confederation in 1870. This day honours Louis Riel as an advocate of justice for the Métis people, helping to lay the framework for minority language rights and shaping Canada’s inclusive and diverse identity.