Statement from Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter to Honour June 2024 as Indigenous History Month in Oshawa

June 1 marks the beginning of Indigenous History Month, a time to celebrate Indigenous communities' achievements and to reflect on their role in shaping Canada, acknowledging that Indigenous culture and language are integral to our country's and our city's heritage. As part of our efforts to recognize and honour Indigenous Peoples, the City of Oshawa has collaborated with Anishinaabe cultural consultant, Kim Wheatley, and the City’s Indigenous Relations Advisor, to host the City’s inaugural Indigenous Cultural Celebration.

The Indigenous Cultural Celebration will take place between 12 and 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 1 at Ed Broadbent Waterfront Park and is a great way to kick off Indigenous History Month by celebrating the beautiful diverse cultures of Indigenous Peoples from across Turtle Island (North America). All are welcome to join in this exciting event.

Indigenous History Month also includes two additional key dates for the Oshawa community to get involved and learn more about Indigenous culture and language:

June 6 is Anishinaabe Day, which is the original people of this territory; and,
June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day.

To learn more and find ways to get involved, please visit the City’s Truth and Reconciliation webpage on oshawa.ca.

I urge all community members to take time this month to learn about not only the contributions of Indigenous communities to our society, but also how our history informs our present.

The legacy of historic racism and discrimination continues to have impacts today, as many members within Indigenous communities still experience barriers to inclusion that take the form of violence, oppression, microaggressions and harassment. We recognize that it is not enough to acknowledge past injustices and the ongoing impacts of colonization; we must also commit to meaningful action to combat discrimination and better support the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action.

We know there is much work ahead of us. We look forward to continuing to advance anti-Indigenous racism initiatives, dismantling barriers to participation, and centering the experiences, both past and present, of Indigenous communities as we work towards a more inclusive and equitable future.

I look forward to continuing to celebrate the diverse Indigenous cultures and community members in Oshawa this month and every month throughout the year.

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