Sudbury celebrates National Aboriginal Day

Morning North6:51First Nations leader reflects on National Aboriginal Day

It's the twentieth annual National Aboriginal Day. The CBC's Marina von Stackelberg spoke with Indigenous advocate Shirley Cote-Meek about what the day means to her... and what work still needs to be done.

Today is the twentieth annual National Aboriginal Day.

The celebration commemorates the achievements and highlights issues affecting First Nations, Metis, and Inuit in Canada.

In Sudbury, N'Swakamok Native Friendship has organized a mini-pow-wow and musical performances from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in Bell Park.

There are also events happening across Canada.

Sheila Cote-Meek, associate vice-president of Indigenous programs at Laurentian University, saidshe's seeing more non-Native people take an interest in learning about Indigenous culture and history.

"I hope people understand that Indigenous peoples are an important part of Canadian society," Cote-Meek said, "and can get themselves to a place where they can acknowledge that there's a lot of positive things that go on about Indigenous people."

Cote-Meek said this past year has brought many Indigenous issues to the forefront.

The final report from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission into Canada's residential schools was released, and an inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women was ordered.

"I think we're kind of in an era now of reconciliation now," Cote-Meek said.

"There's so much work that needs to be done, but one place that they've started with is just acknowledging that these issues exist, and peeling back the layers, looking at what has been going on, and exposing it to the general Canadian public."

She said today is not just about discussing those issues, it's also about celebrating all that Indigenous people have achieved.

"Despite all this, all the negative things that go on, it's amazing that Indigenous people always remain hopeful. And they're quite resilient."

Visit our online interactive at cbcnews.ca/IamIndigenous