This year, we celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day on Sunday, June 21st. Since this day isn't yet a statutory holiday (except in the Northwest Territories as of 2001 and Yukon as of 2017), many of us will not have the day off to celebrate. In 2016, Animikii published an article and video about why we think this should be a statutory holiday everywhere in Canada. While the Government of Canada responded to our petition, they have failed to make this happen.

At Animikii, we treat National Indigenous Peoples Day like a statutory holiday so that our team can attend community events that honour and celebrate Indigenous Peoples as resilient, vibrant, and diverse members of society. To prepare for this celebration, we’ve compiled a list of activities that you and your family can do from the comfort of your home.

• Research on whose traditional territory your home or work is located, and - if you don’t do it already - make an effort to acknowledge that territory by sharing it on social media.
• Support an Indigenous artist in your area by purchasing or sharing their art.
• Read the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and think about how you contribute to protecting or denying these rights.
• Read the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action and discuss with your friends and family how you can work towards adhering to all of these Calls.
• Listen to Indigenous podcasts. Some suggestions include:
• Indigenous Innovators
• Teachings in the Air
• Media Indigena
• Medicine for the Resistance
• The Red Road
• Warrior Life
• Warrior Kids
• The Skoden Podcast
• Unreserved with Rosanna Deerchild
• Missing & Murdered: Finding Cleo
• The Henceforward
• One Dish, One Mic
• Red Man Laughing
• Métis in Space
• Stories from the Land
• Coffee With My Ma
• Think Indigenous
• and check out the rest of the Indian and Cowboy network.
• Watch Indigenous Cinema
• Call your local Friendship Centre and ask if they need any volunteers or donations for programs or events.
• Attend virtual events such as the ones listed below:

• Royal Roads University National Indigenous Peoples Day 2020 Celebrations
• Indigenous Peoples Day events to check out around Metro Vancouver
• How Hamilton is celebrating National Indigenous History Month
• Rally, online events to mark National Indigenous Peoples Day in Regina
• National Indigenous Peoples Day - Celebrate with the KDCC & YFNCT!
• National Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration Virtual Powwow
• Bannock, beads and beats: CBC Ontario unites to mark National Indigenous Peoples Day with virtual powwow
• Tribute to director Tasha Hubbard marks National Indigenous People's Day, in Cinematheque and National Film Board series
• Burnaby filmmaker's doc launches for National Indigenous Peoples Day
• ”Restoration Through Activation in Along the River of Spacetime," by Elizabeth Lapensée
• 2020 National Indigenous People’s Day Virtual Events List

It’s important to note that the activities listed here are not exclusive to National Indigenous Peoples Day. These are things you implement into your everyday life to acknowledge and support First Nations, Inuit, and Métis throughout Canada.