Christi Belcourt

Powley Day is a day of celebration for the Métis peoples of Canada. Celebrated annually on September 19, Powley Day highlights the legal case dealing with the hunting rights of these peoples.

Orange Sweater Day is a day of remembrance for residential school survivors. Phyllis Jack Webstad, a residential school survivor herself, inspires the idea behind this important day by sharing her story.

October 3rd is the birthday of the most important Inuk visual artist: Kenojuak Ashevak. This pioneer of modern Inuit art has received several awards for her visual and media artworks.

On October 7, 1763, King George III officially issued a Royal Proclamation. This proclamation would define the new structure for the administration of the territories and would also establish new procedures and protocols for future relations with the First Nations. This created two new territories: the province of Quebec and a huge…

Gord Downie, well known through his band The Tragically Hip, has launched a multimedia project inspired by Chanie Wenjack, a young child who escaped from a residential school. Chanie died while escaping and marks a period in the dark history of residential schools.

The two-row wampum belt is used as a treaty agreement between the First Nations and the Europeans.

November 7 is proclaimed International Inuit Day. Eben Hopson founded an international non-governmental organization called the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) to strengthen Inuit unity, defend Inuit rights and interests and ensure the development of Inuit culture. In 2006, members of the ICC decided to proclaim an International…

Since 1994, November 8th has been National Indigenous Veterans Day. This episode focuses on the contribution of Indigenous people in various wars and the challenges they faced in joining the military effort.

Louis Riel was a founding Métis leader of Manitoba and a great defender of the French language. Louis Riel dedicated his life to achieving a vision of a Canada that understands the Métis Nation and protects its rights. Louis Riel Day is a day to celebrate Métis culture and the continued progress of this nation.

Tommy Prince is one of Canada's most decorated Indigenous veterans. Modern units emulate Tommy Prince's tactics to this day as he mastered the art of disguise. Upon his return to Canada, Tommy was subjected to racism: he was not entitled to the benefits and perks that were given to Canadian veterans. At his funeral, he was…

Waneek Horn-Miller is the first Mohawk woman in Canada to go to the Olympics. She participated in the North American Indigenous Games where she won 20 gold medals!

Buffy Ste-Marie became the first native character on the show Sesame Street. Episode 802 aired on December 9, 1975 during the seventh season. She helped teach a generation of children about Indigenous cultures in an authentic and positive way.

Fred Sasakamoose is one of the first Indigenous players in the NHL. After retiring from the competition, he used his fame to promote the participation of Indigenous youth in sport. He has since been instrumental inthe creation of numerous initiatives.

Tom is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, marathon runners of all time. In February 1916, he enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces as an expedition runner. In addition to delivering messages and orders from unit to unit, he continued to run professionally, winning numerous inter-battalion sporting events.