Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada highlights events for June 21, 2017
Photo: Quebec Aboriginal Tourism – Mathieu Dupuis
Nationwide
#CanadaChat
ITAC is hosting #CanadaChat, a digital event where people from across Canada are invited to join Destination Canada and their partners to engage with travellers looking for information about Canadian destinations. The June 21 #CanadaChat is all about Aboriginal tourism experiences in Canada. The conversation happens simultaneously in English and French on Twitter via @ExploreCanada and @ExplorezSansFin, a community of more than 300,000 followers.
APTN Aboriginal Day Live
Join the gathering and celebrate Aboriginal cultures with Aboriginal Peoples Television Network’s Aboriginal Day Live across Canada! This year marks the largest celebration of National Aboriginal Day in Canada’s history, as thy host celebration in eight cities across the country: Halifax, Montréal, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Yellowknife, Edmonton, and Vancouver. All Canadians are invited to join – for free day celebrations and activities as well as a live concert – on location in our host cities, via a live 7-hour TV broadcast, via participating radio stations, and online.
British Columbia
Aboriginal Cultural Festival in Victoria
(June 16-18)
The third annual Aboriginal Cultural Festival takes place on the grounds of the Royal BC Museum and celebrates First Nations members from around the province through a three-day festival of song, dance, food, and art.
Kanata Festival on Turtle Island in Vancouver
(June 19-July 1)
This 13-day cultural festival features food, music, art, workshops, and performances. It takes place on the traditional unceded territory of the Coast Salish people, in Larwill Park in downtown Vancouver.
Totem Pole Raising at Hiellen Longhouse Village, Masset
Old Masset Village Council and Hiellen Longhouse Village are inviting visitors to participate in the raising of a totem pole inspired by the original pole that once stood at Hiellen “Tlielang” in the 19th century.
National Aboriginal Day in Vancouver
Join the gathering for Aboriginal Day Live 2017 at Trout Lake.
Alberta
National Aboriginal Day Edmonton
A series of events across the city are planned, including the hosted APTN Aboriginal Day Live event, and a street festival at the Bissell Centre that will include drumming, dancers, art activities, traditional stew, and bannock. Through a collaborative approach, the Edmonton National Aboriginal Day Committee (NAD) encourages all nations to share in the celebrations.
Aboriginal Awareness Week in Calgary
Aboriginal Awareness Week reflects the pride of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities and is an opportunity to experience their rich heritages, traditions, and cultures. AAWC’s theme for 2017 is “KEEPING THE CIRCLE STRONG” – “Sharing Our Culture: Celebrating Canada’s 150th Birthday” Join AAWC and our partners for this week-long celebration of events that promote pride, understanding and awareness of Aboriginal cultures, traditions, contributions, and achievements to Canadian society.
National Aboriginal Day Celebrations in Camrose
The Augustana Campus, University of Alberta (Soccer Field) is the location for the Camrose celebration, providing a time for all Canadians to recognize the diverse cultures, and outstanding contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. Featuring Red Thunder The Next Generation who will be dancing three times throughout the day.
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan Indigenous Cultural Centre Celebration in Saskatoon
Geared toward families and youth, the Saskatchewan Indigenous Cultural Centre is partnering with Wanuskewin Heritage Park, CHEP Good Food Inc., Dakota Dunes Community Development Corporation, Heritage Canada and University of Saskatchewan for their 2017 celebration. The event focuses on showcasing First Nations song, dance, teachings, and stories.
National Aboriginal Day Celebrations in Regina
2017 marks the 21st anniversary of Regina’s National Aboriginal Day. Aboriginal people will celebrate through singing, drumming, dancing, fiddling, children’s activities, and more.
Manitoba
National Aboriginal Day Celebration in Winnipeg
Join the celebrations as the University of Manitoba hosts National Aboriginal Day events, beginning with a Friendship Round Dance outside of the Admin Building.
Flin Flon Annual National Aboriginal Day Celebration
The Flin Flon Aboriginal Friendship Centre will be hosting their annual National Aboriginal Day Celebration. This is the 17th year that National Aboriginal Day will be held in the community.
Riding Mountain National Park Celebrates National Aboriginal Day
(June 24)
Join Parks Canada at the Sharing Lodge in Wasagaming, Riding Mountain National Park as they celebrate Aboriginal Day with a Saturday full of celebrations. Enjoy traditional dances, musical performances, and a Pow Wow.
Ontario
Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival in Ottawa
(June 20-25)
For the past twenty years, National Aboriginal Day events in the National Capital Region have created an opportunity for all residents to celebrate the culture and contributions of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples. The Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival is a family-oriented multi-disciplinary arts festival that attracts more than 40,000 visitors a year.
Sunrise Ceremony
5:30 a.m., National Aboriginal Day at City Hall in Toronto.
This year, we will commemorate Toronto’s First Peoples through the permanent raising of the flags belonging to the Indigenous groups both traditional and present today to this territory which include: The Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation, Six Nations of the Grand River Territory First Nation, the Huron-Wendat-Wendake First Nation, The Métis Nation of Ontario, and the Inuit.
Quebec
National Aboriginal Day in Montreal
Celebrating National Aboriginal Day Live with APTN in Montreal. Join the gathering for Aboriginal Day Live 2017 at Place des Arts and Cabot Square.
New Brunswick
Saint John Canada 150 Hosts National Aboriginal Day
New Brunswick is comprised of fifteen indigenous Mi’kmaq and Maliseet bands across the province. As a major trading post for centuries, the land upon which the Canada Day festivities occur remains one of the few territories that no indigenous groups lay claim: it has perpetually been a space for all to gather.
Nova Scotia
National Aboriginal Day in Halifax
Celebrating National Aboriginal Day Live with APTN in Halifax. Join the gathering for Aboriginal Day Live 2017 at the Halifax Waterfront – Sands at Salter.
Millbrook Cultural & Heritage Centre
The Millbrook Cultural & Heritage Centre will celebrate National Aboriginal Day at their location, and invites all members of the community to join them for a series of on-site activities.
Prince Edward Island
National Aboriginal Day Hosted by the Mi’kmaq Confederacy of PEI
Lennox Island is the location for the 2017 National Aboriginal Day celebration, hosted by the Mi’kmaq Confederacy of PEI.
Newfoundland & Labrador
Qalipu Cultural Foundation
The Qalipu Cultural Foundation was formed in 2014 to support Mi’kmaq culture in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is proud to celebrate National Aboriginal Day in 2017.
Yukon
Yukon Celebrates National Aboriginal Day
Everyone is invited to be a part of this national celebration to enjoy live music, artist demonstrations, traditional food, special ceremonies, and much more.
Teslin: Teslin Tlingit Heritage Centre
Whitehorse: Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre and National Aboriginal Day Community Walk
Haines Junction: Da kų “Our House” Cultural Centre
Carcross: Carcross Commons
Dawson City: Dänoja Zho Cultural Centre
Northwest Territories
National Aboriginal Day in Yellowknife
Celebrating National Aboriginal Day Live with APTN in Yellowknife. Join the gathering for Aboriginal Day Live 2017 at Somba K’e Park.
Nunavut
National Aboriginal Day in Iqaluit
Celebrating National Aboriginal Day in Iqaluit and Nunavut communities.
Additional list of activities – National Aboriginal Day 2017
Interested in local events in your community?
Visit Heritage Canada for a full listing of events across Canada.
About the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada
The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) works to improve the socio-economic condition of Aboriginal people through the provisions of economic development advisory services, tourism conferences, capacity development training and workshops, industry research and information for Aboriginal tourism operators and communities within the 13 regions; 10 provinces and three territories of Canada. ITAC develops relationships with other groups and regions with similar mandates, uniting the Aboriginal tourism industry in Canada and works to enable collective support, product development, promotion and marketing of authentic Aboriginal cultural tourism businesses in a respectful protocol. The ITAC Board is made up of Aboriginal tourism industry representatives from each of the provinces and territories. For more information, visit www.indigenoustourism.ca.
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Media contact:
Brian Cant, Tartan: 250-592-3838 or brian@tartangroup.ca