​​On behalf of the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA), I would like to wish all Indigenous people in BC a happy and healthy National Indigenous Peoples Day in advance – and let you know about some of the upcoming celebrations across the province.

It's always “a good day to be Indigenous," as a famous line from the movie “Smoke Signals" goes, and as some of us like to say to express our immense pride in our beautiful and powerful First Nations cultures. After all, we can celebrate our Indigenousness every day. So, for us, National Indigenous Peoples Day is another great opportunity for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people alike to get together to celebrate the traditions, cultures, and contributions of Indigenous peoples. On this day, we proudly share our diverse First Nations cultures through dance, drumming, music, storytelling, arts, crafts, and many other activities that lift our spirits and contribute to our health and wellness.

I and other FNHA employees will certainly be out celebrating on this day. I encourage you to also take part in one of the exciting, colourful and joyous celebrations held annually across Canada. Share your photos on Instagram using the hashtag #fnhaNIPD and we'll share as many as we can so communities can see each other's celebrations.

Visit the Indigenous Tourism BC website for a list of celebrations happening on First Nation territories across BC on June 21.