Indigenous History Month | York University

National Indigenous History Month at York celebrates and honours Indigenous community members. It is a time to learn from and engage with Indigenous peoples, cultures, languages, and the ways in which they have shaped Canada.

National Indigenous Peoples Day falls on June 21, the summer solstice, which is the longest day of the year. It is a day to recognize the diversity of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples.

National Indigenous History Month and National Indigenous Peoples Day provide opportunities for celebration. Indigenous community members will be spending time with family and community and invite non-Indigenous people to learn from participating in events taking place. It is an important time for settlers to learn about First Nations, Métis, and Inuit histories, cultures, lifeways, and the treaties that continue to have significance in the relationships between Indigenous peoples and all Canadians.

Throughout the month of June, we will highlight stories from Indigenous community members at York. You are invited to follow along and share your story using #IndigenousatYU and #IndigenousHistoryMonth.

Read the Statement from York’s Interim Vice-President Equity, People and Culture

Indigenous @ York

Here you will find information about Indigenous people, services, spaces, and places available to the Indigenous community. Indigenous communities at York include a diversity of students, faculty and staff. Our communities are strong, supportive, and growing.

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Engage and Learn

Non Fictional Reading: Indigenous History Month

York U Libraries has curated a selection of non-fictional works by Indigenous authors.

Find your next read here.

Indigenous Literature

York U Libraries has curated a selection of fictional works by Indigenous authors.

Find your next read here.

A group of diverse students looks at a laptop while smiling.

Indigenous Films

York U Libraries has curated a selection of Indigenous films.

Find your next watch here.

Featured Stories

Indigenous-led land acknowledgements gifted to York U community

Three new land acknowledgements, developed by the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, will guide how York University recognizes the territories its campuses occupy and are accompanied by new protocols and resources for community use.

Indigenous student art shapes identity of Miinkaanensing Reading Room

Three Indigenous student artists have brought new meaning to a dedicated space for study and reflection.

York U students transform access to Inuit art

A student-led project brings works from York University’s Inuit sculpture collection to broader audiences through an innovative pairing of physical and virtual exhibitions.

New scholarship opens pathways for Indigenous students at York

The Brigitte Nolet Scholarship for Indigenous Pathways into Life Sciences will expand opportunities for Indigenous students in York’s Faculty of Health, thanks to support from Roche Canada, a leading pharmaceutical company, and Innovative Medicines Canada (IMC), an industry association representing Canada’s research-based biopharmaceutical companies.

How York U is using technology to protect Indigenous languages

Andrew McConnell, a course director and instructor in York University’s Faculty of Education, is using AI to preserve Indigenous languages and cultural knowledge.

Goldfarb Gallery collection brings Indigenous art into focus

As National Indigenous History Month prompts reflection on the art and histories of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples, York University's Joan and Martin Goldfarb Gallery is expanding access to one of the country’s most focused collections of Inuit prints and stone carvings.

York launches new module to advance equity, Indigenous research excellence

York University continues to lead in decolonization, equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts with the launch of a new module that will help faculty members better understand and evaluate Indigenous research excellence.

Biskaabiiyaang: The Indigenous Metaverse

The first wholly autonomous The Indigenous Metaverse is a York University-funded project to develop an Indigenized curriculum and create experiential education opportunities has joined the UNESCO organization to promote and protect endangered Indigenous languages.

Community Reflections on National Indigenous Month and National Indigenous Peoples Day

Michelle Letourneau

Michelle Letourneau is a member of the Curve Lake First Nation. She was born here in Tkaronto and raised in Regent Park. She was honoured to attend and graduate from York University in the Waaban Teacher Education Program (Oct 2023). Michelle is currently working as an Occasional Teacher for the Toronto District School board and will continue her studies in September in the Masters of Education (MEd) - Urban Indigenous Education Cohort.

The Waaban Bachelor of Education program brought me to York. I have worked in education for the past 18 years at Kensington Community School as a Swim Instructor, and it was time for me to move forward with my work. It was the perfect opportunity to continue my lifelong learning journey. I had so much personal and spiritual growth in the Waaban program. It was a catalyst for the changes I needed in my life. Through my studies, I have a greater understanding of myself, my connection to land, my spirit, and the means to support change in my community. Through deep self-reflection on education and a wonderful, completely Indigenous peer group in Waaban, I could see myself as smart or creative, a change-maker, and an educator who puts in the hard work to lift up Indigenous students, knowledge, and excellence.

For me, National Indigenous History Month is a time for celebrating our beautiful ways of knowing and doing. Honouring our ancestors for everything they did to make sure that we and the next seven generations are still here. Most importantly, it is about celebrating the summer solstice and building on our connections to our beautiful Mother Earth and Grandfather sun by being out on the land, engaging in ceremonies and Powwows, and nurturing our spiritual bond with the Ode’min Giizis, Strawberry Moon.

There is so much knowledge and history of Indigenous people that the average Canadian has no idea about. Just the other day, when I was at Sneaky Dee’s on College Street, my colleague and I were both wearing red dresses for MMIW (National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ Peoples) day and the server asked us why we were both wearing red. We explained the significance, and she admitted she had never heard of MMIW or knew anything about the issues that Indigenous people face. On the flip side, I do not believe that one month is long enough to understand the brilliance of Indigenous knowledge and ways of doing. I have been learning for 44 years, and I still feel I have so much to learn. As Indigenous people, we have a strong connection to the Creator and our Mother Earth. We take our stewardship of the land and our responsibility to our relatives very seriously. If I had to choose one specific idea for Canadians to learn about Indigenous history month, it would be to reflect on the land and space they are in, and how to honour Indigenous people and knowledge in connection to the land, our Mother Earth.