Durham Region proclaims National Indigenous Peoples Day

Whitby, Ontario – The following statement is being issued on behalf of John Henry, Regional Chair and Chief Executive Officer for The Regional Municipality of Durham:

“Today, June 21, is proclaimed as National Indigenous Peoples Day. It is an opportunity to continue to learn, honour and celebrate First Nation, Inuit and Métis communities.

We are eternally grateful for the opportunity to operate within the traditional and treaty territory of the Williams Treaties First Nations and acknowledge the Mississaugas and Chippewas Nations for their continued guardianship of the land on which Durham Region operates.

I invite you to join us in celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day and encourage everyone to take time to reflect honestly on the historic and contemporary relationship with the First Peoples of this land. We continue on our path to reconciliation and embracing Indigenous ways of knowing and doing. It is our aim to create a safe and welcoming environment for everyone.

To honour and celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day, we will raise the Medicine Wheel flag at Regional headquarters and invite members of the community to join us at 10:30 a.m. The flag raising will include a smudging ceremony and a performance by the Indigenous singing group, Unity.

Durham Region is committed to reconciliation not just in June, but every day.”

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For media requests, please contact CorporateCommunications@durham.ca.