Almost 30 years after its official establishment in Canada, the National Day of Aboriginal peoples is an opportunity to recognize and pay tribute to history, cultural diversity and First Nations, Inuit and Métis contributions to Canadian society.
Here is an overview of the celebrations organized in several cities in Quebec, but also on radio and television.
In Quebec
The Grand spectacle Kwe! stands in front of the site of the National Assembly and is organized by the group behind the festival of the same name which takes place each year in Quebec. About 20,000 people are expected.
From 6 p.m., around thirty indigenous and noddency artists, including Florent Vollant, Matten, Zachary Richard, the Hauterive duo, Scott-Pien Picard, Sandrine Masse and Vincent Vallières, will offer a musical evening celebrating the cultural diversity of the first peoples of Quebec.
The composer, violinist and film producer of film Geneviève Gros-Louis, from the Wendat nation, will open the evening.
Earlier during the day, activities also take place on Laval University campus from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lieutenant-Governor of Quebec, Manon Jeannotte, who is Mi’kmaw, as well as the Minister responsible for Relations with First Nations and Inuit, Ian Lafrenière, will speak in particular.
In Wendake, we take advantage of the summer solstice to inaugurate a Wendat market gardener To revive the three sisters (corn, squash, beans)
. The event takes place at 3 p.m., 100, rue de l’Ours.
In Montreal
The Old Port will host the traditional ceremony punctuated by the Kahnawà Mohawks dancers: Ke SE from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. A fire will be lit at noon, in earth echo in the bright sun at its zenith during the longest day
indicates the Terres en Views organization, which is piloting the event taking place this year in front of the Montreal Science Center.
An Aboriginal craft and gastronomy market will be held in the botanical garden from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the First Nations garden. A pop performance by the artist Wendat Eadsé is on the menu from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., as well as projections of short films from the Wapikoni Mobile.
It is in the west of the city center-more precisely at Square Cabot-that you will find the largest range of Aboriginal music in Montreal.
At 2:30 p.m., the artists Secwepemc Misha & The Spanks will launch the festivities with their militant rock. They will be followed by the folk music of Digawolffrom Nordic pop of Aasiva and country pieces to anishnabe hip-hop accents Leonard Sumner. Soap stone sculpture workshops are also on the menu, the organizers, Pop Montreal and Nakuset indicate.
Let us also note of activities and collections accessible for free at the McCord-Stewart museum, an exhibition at the Maison du Development Sustainable and a classical music concert features two Aboriginal artists at the Museum of Fine Arts in Montreal at 7:30 p.m.
In Trois-Rivières
It is at the campus of theUQTR That the main activities take place, in collaboration with the Aboriginal Center for Trois-Rivières. More specifically at the Waska Otapi space. The sculptor Atikamekw recognized Jacques Newashish will pilot a collective art workshop in partnership with the Onikam cultural space.
Traditional dances, craft workshops and dinner with Aboriginal flavors are also scheduled from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. The folk singers Atikamekw Simeon Chachai and Christian Boivin will go on stage from 7 p.m.
In Joliette
For the 4e edition of Waskapitan (let’s get closer
In Atikamekw), the Lanaudière Aboriginal Friendship Center has planned various family and gastronomic activities from 5 p.m. at Place Bourget Park.
On the musical side, let us note in particular the presence of the electro-pop singer Anachnid, the rapper Q-052, Régis Niquay and the drums ofEagle River Singers.
In Val-d’Or
Innu Shauit artist will be at the center of this free contemporary indigenous music show, with his guests Sly, Willows et Digging Roots.
The event is organized by the Val-d’Or Aboriginal Friendship Center (new window) which celebrates its 50 this yeare birthday. The population is invited in place Agnico-Eagle at 8 p.m.
In communities
In many communities, festivities are organized to underline the summer solstice, with however a more developed spiritual and community angle, as shown by the day’s programming among the Mashteuiatsh, Lac-Saint-Jean.
On the Uashassihthth site, the day begins at 4 a.m. with the sunrise ceremony, followed at 6 a.m. from the newborns, at 10 a.m. from the Eucharistic celebration and then the reception of the canoes who will have crossed the Pekukami, the Innu name of Lac Saint-Jean.
Among the activities organized during the day: game cooking workshops, manufacturing a train or bark bracelets, pearl activities and political kiosk on cultural affirmation. A huge community meal is scheduled for the start of the evening, followed by the granting of scholarships, a Dan-Georges McKenzie show and a sharing around the fire.
If you are in the corner of Schefferville, it is at Matimekush-Lac John that it happens.
On television
Radio-Canada, Télé-Québec and Apt broadcast on Saturday at 8 p.m., the 5the edition of Grand solstice. This year the show brings together the following artists and groups: Elisapie (Inuk), Simik (Inuk), Tia Wood (Crie and Salish), Jeremy Dutcher (Wolastoqey), Elisabeth St-Gelais (Innu), Mimi O’Bonsawin (Abénakise), Anyma Ora ‘(Wendat), Juurini (Inuk) St-Pierre, Adrian Sutherland (CRI), Shauit (Innu) and Yves Lambert.
The show will be presented as early as Friday, at 8 p.m. (Hae), on here Artv. The chain will also present on Saturday June 21, at 7 p.m., the documentary On the ground with indigenous stakeholders 2 Offering an intimate look at the daily lives of those who work within the communities of Manawan, Sept-Îles and Wemindji
.
The CBC network Starts his evening at 7 p.m. (Hae) with the broadcast of the Indspire Awards 2025, (new window) Who recognize indigenous talent in different areas such as business, art, education, health, spirituality, justice, sports and youth. The gala will be followed by the documentary Searching for Winnetou From humorist Anishinabe Drew Hayden Taylor. The powerful film Beanon the Oka crisis seen by a young Mohawk, will close the evening at 9 p.m.
On the radio
Before the broadcast of the show of Grand solstice On here music, the singer and animator Samian will share, at 7 p.m., with singer Corneille, his rnb musical favorites. At 9 p.m., the evening will continue with an hour of indigenous music as part of the show Minotan!.
Earlier in the day, still on here music, Claudine Prévost will also host a special program ofOrbit Around the Innu nation at 2 p.m.
On here first, on the show Wait! For!, Melissa Mollen Dupuis will welcome Atamona, a young producer, multi-instrumentalist and Inuk multimedia artist. The Xavier Watso and Dominique Pétin columnists will also be present to share their summer cultural suggestions.
