Indigenous Days of Significance

National Ribbon Skirt Day is observed every January 4 and was inspired by the experience of Isabella Kulak, a member of the Cote First Nation, who was shamed for wearing a ribbon skirt to her school’s formal event. Traditionally worn by First Nations and Métis peoples, ribbon skirts are powerful symbols of identity, adaptation, resilience, and survival for Indigenous women, girls, and gender-diverse people. They also represent a deep connection to Mother Earth. Isabella’s story highlights the ongoing injustices, racism, and discrimination faced by First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples in Canada, and underscores the vital role we all play in the journey toward reconciliation.

National Ribbon Skirt Day is a non-statutory holiday.

February 14th, also known as Women's Memorial March, is a day to remember and honor Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit (MMIWG2S+) people. This day is a time for communities to gather, mourn, hold ceremonies, and call for action to address the systemic issues that disproportionately affect Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people. The Women's Memorial March began in Vancouver in 1992 and has since expanded to multiple cities across North America.

National Day of Remembrance for MMIWG2S+ is a non-statutory holiday.

Have a Heart Day is a child- and youth-led reconciliation event that brings together caring Canadians to advocate for the rights of First Nations children. The goal is to ensure that every child has the opportunity to grow up safely at home, receive a quality education, enjoy good health, and feel proud of their identity. At its core, the day is about reconciliation and the power of individual action. It aims to build bridges between communities while addressing the ongoing challenges faced by First Nations families.

Have A Heart Day is a non-statutory holiday.

The Longwoods Treaty, also known as Treaty 21, was signed on March 9, 1819, with its final version completed in 1822. It was an agreement between the British Crown and the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation, covering approximately 580,000 acres of land in what is now southwestern Ontario. The treaty area includes parts of present-day Strathroy, Komoka, Oil Springs, Bothwell and Watford.

Unlike many other treaties that involved multiple First Nations, the Longwoods Treaty was negotiated solely by the Chippewas of the Thames. It was part of a broader effort by the British to acquire land for settlement following the War of 1812. The treaty was negotiated over several years, with earlier versions signed in 1819 and 1820, before the final version in 1822.

In exchange for the land, the British Crown agreed to pay an annual annuity of $2,400, which is still paid today, though it is held in Canada’s consolidated revenue fund rather than going directly to the First Nation.

March 19 has been proclaimed Two-Spirit Celebration and Awareness Day by the Government of British Columbia. Their Two-Spirit community is calling for the national recognition of Two-Spirit Celebration and Awareness Day.

Two-Spirit Celebration & Awareness Day is a non-statutory holiday.

Spring Equinox is when day and night are equal in length, which begins Spring in the Northern Hemisphere. While ceremonies and traditions recognizing this equinox are unique to different Nations, communities and even families, it is typically seen as a day of balance and rebirth.

World Water Day is an annual United Nations Observance focusing on the importance of fresh water, celebrates water and inspired action to tackle the global water crisis. Water holds particular importance for Indigenous communities with deep cultural, spiritual, and practical connection to water sources. As a core focus of World Water Day is to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6: water sanitation for all by 2030, this day highlights the historical and ongoing struggles faced by Indigenous Peoples over access to clean water and the preservation of water rights.

World Water Day is a non-statutory holiday.

National Indigenous Languages Day is March 31, and it is a day to celebrate and honour the linguistic heritage of First Nation, Inuit, and Métis Peoples across the country. The day serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of Indigenous languages in preserving the history, culture, identity, and worldview of Indigenous communities. These languages are deeply connected to the land, traditions, and ancestral knowledge, and they play a vital role in community well-being and resilience. The decade from 2022 to 2032 is also the International Decade of Indigenous Languages to promote the use of Indigenous languages world-wide

National Indigenous Languages Day is a non-statutory holiday.

May 5 honours the thousands of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, two spirit, and gender diverse people in Canada. This day is also known as Red Dress Day, inspired by Jaime Black’s REDress art installation. On May 5, many people across North America hang red dresses in private and public spaces to remember those who are missing and murdered. This day aims to raise awareness and end violence against them.

National Day of Awareness for MMIWG2S is a non-statutory holiday.

Moose Hide Campaign Day is a day of ceremony where all Canadians are called to join together to take a stand against violence towards women and children and to take practical steps for our collective journey of reconciliation.

Moose Hide Campaign Day is a non-statutory holiday.

The McKee Treaty, signed on May 19, 1790, was one of the earliest land agreements in what is now southern Ontario. It involved the British Crown and several First Nations, including the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi. The treaty covered a large area of land along the north shore of Lake Erie, extending inland to the Thames River, including parts of present-day Windsor, Chatham-Kent, and London.

The land was ceded in exchange for £1,200 worth of trade goods, such as cloth, tools, and other supplies. The British sought this land to accommodate Loyalist settlers who had fled the United States after the American Revolution and to secure military and economic interests in the region.

In 2009, June was declared National Indigenous History Month in Canada. During this month, we celebrate and honour the history, heritage and diversity of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples in Canada. This month is also a time for all Canadians to learn about, appreciate and acknowledge the Indigenous Peoples of Canada’s immense contributions, both past and present.

Throughout this month, the Office of Indigenous Initiatives leads the Western community in their learning journeys and in taking action to ensure we are all advancing the Calls to Action within our own spaces.

Inaugurated in 2022, Anishinaabe Giizhigad (Anishinaabe Day) is a national holiday for the Anishinabek Nation, celebrated by 65,000 citizens from the union of 39 First Nations in Ontario. This day reflects on the proclamation of the Anishinabek Nation, which was confirmed during a Pipe Ceremony in Sheguindah First Nation on June 6, 2012.

Summer solstice marks the longest day of the year. While ceremonies and traditions recognizing Summer Solstice are unique to different Nations, communities and even families, it is typically seen as a day of celebration and one to gather together.

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 outstanding 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 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 21, 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.

On this day in 1993, the Parliament of Canada passed the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act and the Nunavut Act, which led to Nunavut being recognized as a territory on April 1, 1999. Nunavut Day highlights the importance of Inuit self-determination and honours the cultural heritage, traditions, and contributions of Inuit in Canada.

Nunavut Day is a public holiday in the territory.

Treaty 29, or the Huron Tract Purchase, was signed on July 10, 1827, by representatives of the Crown and certain Anishinaabe peoples. The territory described in the written treaty covers approximately 2,200,000 acres. Treaties often reference natural features of the landscape to mark boundaries. This treaty uses the intersection of the St. Clair River and “a hickory tree marked with a broad arrow on two sides” to mark part of its boundary. Current communities in the area include Sarnia and Stratford.

The Nanfan Treaty of 1701, also known as the Deed from the Five Nations to the King of their Beaver Hunting Ground, was an agreement made on July 19, 1701, between the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and John Nanfan, the acting colonial governor of New York, on behalf of the British Crown.

The treaty placed the Beaver Hunting Grounds under the protection of the British Crown. This land included large parts of what is now known as the Midwestern United States and southern Ontario, stretching as far west as present-day Chicago.

Indigenous Peoples carry a vast diversity of unique cultures, traditions, languages, and knowledge systems. There are over 476 million Indigenous people living in 90 countries across the world, around 5% of the world’s population. Indigenous peoples have sought recognition of their identities, their way of life and their right to traditional lands, territories and natural resources for years. Yet, throughout history, their rights have been violated. Indigenous peoples today, are arguably among the most disadvantaged and vulnerable groups of people in the world. In order to raise awareness of the needs of these population groups, every August 9 commemorates the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, chosen in recognition of the first meeting of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations held in Geneva in 1982.

International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is a non-statutory holiday.

The London Township Treaty, also known as Treaty No. 6, was signed in 1796 between the British Crown and the Chippewa Nation. This treaty involved the surrender of land located on the north side of the Thames River, in what is now London, Ontario. The land covered approximately 12 square miles and was originally considered as a potential site for the capital of Upper Canada, although York (now Toronto) was ultimately chosen instead.

Powley Day, observed on September 19, commemorates a landmark moment in Canadian legal history and the affirmation of Métis rights. It marks the anniversary of the Supreme Court of Canada’s 2003 decision in R v Powley, which recognized the constitutional rights of the Métis as a distinct Indigenous people under Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982.

This historic ruling stemmed from a legal battle led by Steve and Roddy Powley, a father and son from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, who asserted their right to hunt for food as Métis. The court’s unanimous decision confirmed that the Métis have unique rights tied to their culture, history, and identity—rights that must be respected and upheld.

Powley Day is a non-statutory holiday.

In 2023, the Office of Indigenous Initiatives and Western Sustainability planted a White Pine Tree on campus along the banks of Deshkan Ziibiing (the Thames River) to honour the enduring spirit of Truth and Reconciliation. The planting of this sacred being, known as the Great Tree of Peace, honours the traditional laws of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, representing diplomacy, peace and unity-building, rooted in respect and dignity.

As the tree serves as a daily reminder of the importance of living respectfully with each other and all of Creation and represents the commitment of everyone at Western to do their part in support of the healing and rebuilding through Reconciliation. Each year, an Elder will lead us in feasting for the White Pine and what it represents for Western, all are welcome to attend.

Fall Equinox is when day and night are equal in length, which begins Fall/Autumn in the Northern Hemisphere. While ceremonies and traditions recognizing this equinox are unique to different Nations, communities and even families, it is typically seen as a day of balance and transition into a more introspective and restful season.

Each year, September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (NDTR) across Canada. Building on the grassroots movement of Orange Shirt Day, September 30 was established as a statutory holiday through legislative amendments in 2021 in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's Call to Action No. 80. This day honours the children who never returned home, "the Survivors, their families, and communities, and ensures the public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process."

Commemoration of this day educates everyone about the painful and deeply disturbing intergenerational impact of residential schools and the oppressive realities that continue to shape the relationship between Indigenous Peoples and Canadian society.

Each year, the Office of Indigenous Initiatives will host a flag-raising ceremony on Concrete Beach on the Monday before NDTR.

At Western, September 30 will be observed as a non-instructional day across campus.

National Day of Action for MMIWG2S, observed on October 4th, is a solemn and powerful day in Canada dedicated to honoring the lives of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit people (MMIWG2S). Also known as Sisters in Spirit Day, it serves as a national call to action to address the systemic violence, discrimination, and neglect that disproportionately affect Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals.

This day is marked by vigils, marches, and community gatherings across the country, where families, advocates, and allies come together to remember those lost, support survivors, and demand justice and systemic change. The movement gained momentum following the MMIWG National Inquiry, which concluded that the violence constitutes a form of genocide rooted in colonialism and ongoing systemic racism.

National Day of Awareness for MMIWG2S is a non-statutory holiday.

On October 25, 1784, Sir Frederick Haldimand, the governor of Quebec, signed a decree that granted a tract of land to the Haudenosaunee, also known as the Six Nations Confederacy, in compensation for their alliance with British forces during the American Revolution. The Haldimand Tract is a strip of land that runs the length (and 10km on each side) of the Grand River from Lake Erie to its source, including lands in the Kitchener/Waterloo region.

The Haldimand Tract is central to ongoing land claims struggles. Throughout the late 1700s and 1800s, the Crown and Haudenosaunee disputed rights to the land title. Originally, 950,000 acres were set aside for the Haldimand Tract; today, approximately 48,000 acres remain. Negotiations about the title to the Haldimand Tract still continue between the Canadian government and the Six Nations Confederacy.

Treaties Recognition Week, observed during the first full week of November in Ontario, is a time to honor the importance of treaties and to educate the public about treaty rights and relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples.

Established in 2016 in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, this week encourages all Ontarians to learn about the historical and ongoing significance of treaties, which are foundational agreements that shape the land and relationships across the province and country. Increasing our knowledge of our collective treaty rights and obligations helps us nurture these important relationships.

This year, Treaties Recognition Week is November 2-8.

Inuit Day is a celebration set up to acknowledge and celebrate Inuit culture and contributions, but most importantly to affirm the voices of Inuit across the circumpolar world. At the 2006 Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) General Assembly in Barrow, Alaska, November 7 was proclaimed as Inuit Day to honour the birth date of ICC founder Eben Hopson. Hopson was one of the Arctic’s greatest leaders who called on Inuit from Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and Chukotka to work together in order to defend Inuit Rights and to make certain no Inuit community is left behind as change and development increases in the Arctic.</p

Inuit Day is a non-statutory holiday.

Every year on November 8, Indigenous Veterans Day pays tribute to the important contributions and sacrifices made by First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples in service to Canada. Long before Canada became a country or recognized Indigenous peoples as citizens, they fought to defend this land. Despite facing significant barriers—such as language differences, cultural adjustments, and long journeys from remote communities to enlist—Indigenous people have shown strong participation in military service. Unfortunately, many also faced unequal treatment after their service, receiving fewer benefits and less recognition than other Canadian Veterans. On this day, and throughout Veterans’ Week, we honour and thank the thousands of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis individuals who have served and continue to serve.

Indigenous Veterans Day is a non-statutory holiday.

Founded in 2011 by Jessica “Jaylyn” Atsye of the Laguna Pueblo, the event encourages Indigenous peoples worldwide to wear their moccasins as a symbol of cultural pride, identity, and unity. Moccasins are more than footwear—they are sacred items that represent connection to the land, tradition, and heritage

Participants share photos and stories online using the hashtag #RockYourMocs, creating a powerful visual statement of Indigenous presence and resilience.

Louis Riel Day occurs on November 16 across the Métis homelands in recognition of the anniversary of Riel’s execution in 1885. During that year, Riel led Métis people in the Northwest Resistance, which was a stand against the Government of Canada because it was encroaching on Métis rights and way of life. He was eventually put on trial where he was convicted of treason and executed. Although Louis Riel Day commemorates one of the greatest tragedies of Canadian history, it is also a day to celebrate Métis culture and the continuing progress that Métis people are making in fulfilling Riel’s dream of Métis taking their rightful place within Confederation.

In Manitoba, Louis Riel Day is a provincial statutory holiday that occurs on the third Monday of February.

The Big Bear Creek settlement resolved a land dispute tied to events that took place nearly 200 years ago. The Big Bear Creek land claim is a specific land claim brought forward by the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation. It concerns the loss of 5,120 acres of reserve land that were originally set aside under the Longwoods Treaty of 1820. In the 1830s, this land was sold by the Crown without the consent of the Chippewas, and they were never compensated or provided with replacement lands.

The land claim was submitted in 1999 and accepted for negotiation by the Government of Canada in 2008. On December 9, 2013, after negotiations, a settlement was reached and approved. Although the settlement did not include land restitution, it allows the First Nation to purchase land on the open market and apply to have it added to their reserve under Canada’s Additions to Reserve Policy.

This settlement is seen as a significant step toward reconciliation, addressing historical injustices, and creating opportunities for economic development and community revitalization.

The Winter Solstice holds deep spiritual and cultural significance for many Indigenous peoples in Canada. It is seen as a time of reflection, renewal, and connection to the natural world. The solstice marks a turning point in the seasonal cycle and is often associated with ceremonial practices, community gatherings, and the passing down of traditional knowledge. It also serves as a moment to honour Indigenous identity and reaffirm relationships with the land and each other.