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Indigenous History Month

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 President Lenton's 2025 statement to learn more about York's commitment

National Indigenous History Month at York

The Associate Vice President of Indigenous Initiatives amplifies Indigenous voices, advances Indigenous scholarship, and promote the inclusion of Indigenous knowledges and languages within all aspects of university life.

Centre for Indigenous Student Services

The Centre for Indigenous Student (CISS) Services strives to create a sense of belonging and to support the academic, spiritual, physical, and emotional well-being of a diverse Indigenous student population. CISS provides a safe community space that offers culturally appropriate support services and programs to facilitate students' success throughout their post-secondary studies.

The Centre for Indigenous Knowledges and Languages

CIKL is the first Organized Research Unit at York University centered on Indigenous and decolonizing scholarship, and hosts Indigenous and non-Indigenous researchers and students engaged in these areas.

Engage and Learn

A carving of an indigenous styled eagle on two panel doors

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

Leisure Reading: Indigenous History Month 

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.

Watch: Film selections for Indigenous History Month 

York U Libraries has curated a selection of Indigenous films. 

Find your next watch here.

Featured Stories



New sculpture at Glendon rooted in Indigenous culture, healing

A new sculpture, "Ancient Country Seat," has been unveiled at York University’s Glendon College, representing a significant addition to the University's artistic landscape and a unique intersection of Indigenous culture and education. 

Created by Secwépemc artist Tania Willard, "Ancient Country Seat" is a flower-bench sculpture designed to engage students, faculty and visitors in a dialogue about identity, connection to the land and the role of art in addressing cultural narratives. 

Miinkaanensing - Indigenous Reading Room

In a collaborative effort to support Indigenous students and their learning experiences, York University Libraries’ (YUL) has opened the Miinkaanensing (pronounced mee-ni-kahn-en-sing) Indigenous Reading Room. 

Indigenous teaching at York U embraces reciprocity and connection 

John Waaseyaabin Hupfield (Anishinaabe, Wasauksing First Nation) teaches two courses in the Faculty of Education: Indigeneity and Territory in Cultural Traditions, a graduate studies class, and Place and Learning, an undergraduate educational studies course. The courses, like much of Indigenous education, hinge on the teaching of reciprocity, what Hupfield calls “the idea of giving back.”  

Indigenous Presence highlighted at DEDI Symposium in September 2024

This video of a presentation from the DEDI Symposium (Sept. 2024) focuses on the work of Indigenous students, faculty and staff. As Indigenous people we have always had our own ways of making and sharing Knowledge. Yet Institutions of formal schooling have often failed to recognize Indigenous approaches to teaching, learning and research.

Exhibitions exploring ancestral knowledge and colonial legacy at York’s Goldfarb Gallery

The Joan and Martin Goldfarb Gallery of York University is proud to present two powerful solo exhibitions by international artists: A Painting is a Coin by Andrea Carlson and When Water Embraces Empty Space by Tuấn Andrew Nguyễn. Both shows center ancestral knowledge, legacy, and cultural continuity, offering politically resonant works that challenge colonial narratives.

York U professor champions Indigenous cultural preservation 

In a powerful intersection of art, history and Indigenous rights, Ann Marie Murnaghan, a professor in the Children, Childhood and Youth Program at York University, is leading a groundbreaking research project focused on the K’ëgit totem pole. 


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. Learn more

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.