National Indigenous History Month
Learn more about National Indigenous History Month and how you can participate.
Overview
June is National Indigenous History Month, a time to celebrate the contributions and achievements of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples in Ontario and across Turtle Island. This month explore Indigenous cultures, heritage and events.
National Indigenous Peoples Day
June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day, coinciding with the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year. This day is significant for many Indigenous communities and provides an opportunity to learn about the diverse cultures, stories and traditions of Indigenous peoples.
Events
Explore local activities planned for National Indigenous History Month. Attend local events such as Summer Solstice festivals or Pow Wows to deepen your understanding of Ontario's traditional territories and treaties and support Indigenous tourism, businesses and artists.
Events are offered in English only.
2025 National Indigenous History Month and National Indigenous Peoples Day events in Ontario
| Date | Time (EST) | Event description | Location | Host organization |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-05-06 | 7:00 – 9:30 p.m. | An evening of Indigenous joy, books, food and community. | It's Ok* Studios, 468 Queen St. W, Toronto | Another Story Bookshop |
| 2025-02-06 to 2025-30-06 |
| Beyond Words: Dictionaries and Indigenous Languages Beyond Words: Dictionaries and Indigenous Languages will be on display at the Welcome Centre for the month of June. | The Welcome Centre, 707 Queen Street, Kincardine | The Municipality of Kincardine |
| 2025-03-06 to 2025-08-06 | All day | imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival Explore provocative, inspiring, innovative and original cinema during imagineNATIVE, the world’s largest Indigenous film and media arts festival held annually in Toronto. | Toronto | imagineNATIVE |
| 2025-03-06 to 2025-17-06 | 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. | All are welcome! Bring your own drum, or use the drums provided. Food and refreshments will be shared. | Mother Earth Teaching Lodge, 20 Willcocks St., Courtyard, University of Toronto, Toronto | Waakebiness Institute for Indigenous Health |
| 2025-04-06 | 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. | 4th Indigenous Service Providers Gathering This gathering is a fantastic opportunity for everyone—professionals, community members, or the simply curious—to connect, engage, and learn about the vast array of Indigenous health and social services available across the City and District of Thunder Bay. | Superior Inn Hotel and Conference Centre, 555 Arthur St W, Thunder Bay | Noojmawing Sookatagaing Ontario Health Team |
| 2025-06-06 | 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. | Hand Drumming & Singing with Aqua Nibii Waawaaskone Join Aqua Nibii Waawaaskone as they share their favourite original and traditional hand drum songs. A family friendly PA Day activity, this fun and playful circle encourages learning and celebrating Indigenous culture! | 165 McRae Drive, Toronto | Leaside Library |
| 2025-06-06 to 2025-28-06 | Thursday to Saturday: 12:00 – 6:00 p.m. | Celebrating Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer Identitiy: featuring photographs by Jesse King, Kikki Guerard, John Paillé and Toronto’s Photo Laureate, Nadya Kwandibens that highlights the existence of Two-Spirit, Indigiqueer and other diverse and intersectional individuals | 30 Wellington St W Unit G114, Toronto | Collision Gallery |
Submit an event
For an event or activity to be listed, it must:
- be in support of National Indigenous History Month or National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations
- be open to the public (either in-person or virtually)
To have an event listed on this page and featured on our social media channels, submit a request.
Note: The topics and content presented during the external partner events do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation or the Government of Ontario.
Resources
- Anishinabek Nation’s 2025 Pow Wow Guide
- Destination Ontario: Explore Indigenous Experiences
- Discover Indigenous culture and history along the TransCanada Trail
- Learn about Indigenous culture in Ontario through storytelling
- Read Indigenous from Toronto Public Library
- Screen Indigenous Films from the National Film Board of Canada
- Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival (Ottawa)