National Aboriginal Day events held across Canada

CTVNews.ca, Published Sunday, June 21, 2015 3:08PM EDT, Source

Governor General David Johnston attends a powwow at the Summer Solstice Aboriginal Arts Festival in Ottawa, Saturday, June 21, 2014. -- (Fred Chartrand / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Many Canadians celebrated indigenous culture Sunday during National Aboriginal Day events held from coast to coast.

People joined for pow-wows, marches, solstice celebrations and more, as part of a day the Canadian Government bills as a time to "celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures, and outstanding achievements of First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples of Canada."

In New Brunswick, the New Brunswick Museum held a traditional "sweetgrass ceremony." In Ottawa, the Assembly of First Nations hosted an arts festival and pow wow. Montreal hosted a ceremony and march, and the City of Toronto held an arts festival at Fort York. Winnipeg had a full day of celebration, ending in a concert.

National Aboriginal Day officially began in 1996. The date corresponds with the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, and a time when many indigenous groups have traditionally held celebrations.

In a statement Sunday, Prime Minister Stephen Harper urged all Canadians to learn about indigenous culture and the ways First Nations people have contributed to Canadian history.

"Aboriginal peoples have helped shape Canada's past and will be vital for our future," he said.

Other leaders -- including Gov. Gen. David Johnston, NDP Leader Tom Mulcair and Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau -- also shared messages in honour of the day.

But while the events across the country provided a time to celebrate, they also sparked discussion on indigenous rights in the country.

In Edmonton, the weekend’s festivities began Saturday with a march for missing and murdered women.

An RCMP report released Friday said that 1,192 indigenous women have gone missing or been murdered since 1980.

This year's National Aboriginal Day also comes on the heels of report that found that Canada committed "cultural genocide" through the residential school system. The damning report calls on the government to implement 94 recommendations to address the history of abuse