​National Indigenous Peoples Day is on 
Wednesday, June 21, 2023!
​Celebrated on the same date as the summer solstice, this significant day honours the diverse cultures, histories, languages, and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples across the country. It is an opportunity to appreciate and experience Indigenous traditions and distinct ways of being, belonging, doing, and knowing.
 
RTA's Commitment to Truth and Reconciliation:
RTA students and staff will spend time honouring the recently gifted Treaty 7, Métis Nation, and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami flagg. The Treaty 7, Métis and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami flags remind us of the historic and current day relationship between Canadian settler society and Indigenous peoples in their traditional territory and, as such, should be treated respectfully. The flags also serve as a visual representation of how we acknowledge the songs and stories that have lived on this land for thousands of years, and also as a reminder of the original inhabitants of the land and the truths of the historical injustices they have faced. These injustices must be recognized and can be reconciled through kinship and reciprocity.
 
Guiding Questions:
 
How does learning about the Treaty 7, Métis and Inuit flags connect to the CBE Acknowledgement of the Land?
 
How can learning about the Treaty 7 flag contribute to greater understanding of Treaty relationships and Treaty rights?
 
What is meant by the phrase “We are all Treaty people"?
 
What responsibilities do we have to Indigenous nations, inclusive of Métis and Inuit peoples, as Treaty people living in Mohkinstsis/Calgary?
 
Summer Solstice: A Time of Celebration
June is a month of celebration for all living beings. The long rains come, encouraging growth and transformation. Green grass carpets the ground, animal mothers nurture their young, scented blossoms invite pollinating friends, and water sparkles under rays of light. Na'a (Mother Earth) is awake and Niipo (summer) is near! Soon, Na'toosi (Grandfather Sun) will reach his most northerly point in our sky, shining from above the horizon for longer than any other day of the year. We call this the summer solstice. In many Indigenous communities, the solstice indicates a time for renewal and connection – a time for ceremonies intimately related to land and spirit. Blackfoot Elder, Saa'kokoto, has shared that the summer is a season of abundance and a time for harvesting. He reminds us to harvest life itself - the things we experience make us who we are. When the sun rises on the morning of the solstice, let us look to the East and feel gratitude for all the gifts that summer will bring and look forward to the possibilities that lie ahead. – Indigenous Community Newsletter, Summer 2023