Today marks the 20th anniversary of National Aboriginal Day, which was first established in 1996 by the governor general at the time, Romeo LeBlanc. National Aboriginal Day is held every year on June 21 to coincide with the summer solstice, a day that holds cultural significance in many aboriginal cultures.
The day also falls at a time of year when many First Nations, Inuit and Metis people celebrate their heritage.
National Aboriginal Day is meant not only to acknowledge Canada’s First Nations, Inuit and Metis communities, but to recognize their shared history – good and bad – with the rest of Canada.