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Along with October, May is one of the most densely packed months of the year. It's before the summer humidity and the last whole month of the school year. The weather is warming in t...
The solstice on the 20th marks the onset of summer (Northern Hemisphere) or winter (Southern Hemisphere). Many people, particularly in Europe, North America and Asia, will be embarking o...
Spring has sprung in the north, and the first hints of Autumn are on the horizon in the south. April is the month spring (or fall) gets underway, and it is filled with religious celebrations, including the Mu...
The growing movement for Aboriginal rights in Canadian led to calls for greater recognition of the contributions of Aboriginal peoples to Canadian society.
Shortly after the adoption of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms in 1982, the National Indian Brotherhood, the leading body representing First Nations in Canada, called for the creation of a yearly "National Aboriginal Solidarity Day" on June 21.
Pressure for a national day of recognition continued to grow during the following decade as new ways were sought to bridge the divide between Aboriginal peoples and Canadians, especially in the wake of the 1990 Oka Crisis. In 1995, the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples recommended a "National First Peoples Day" to focus on Aboriginal peoples' history, achievements, and contributions in Canada. Later that year, during the Sacred Assembly, Elijah Harper repeated the call for a national holiday to celebrate the contributions of Aboriginal peoples was made.
On June 13, 1996, after considerable consultation with Aboriginal organizations, June 21 was officially declared National Aboriginal Day.