Today is National Indigenous Peoples Day, which is an opportunity for Canadians to look back on and admire the heritage, cultures and contributions of  First Nations, Inuit, and Metis peoples.

In 1996, Romeo LeBlanc, Governor General of Canada at that time, announced June 21 would be National Aboriginal Day, as many Indigenous groups were in support of such a day. The day was then renamed in 2017 to its current name in a statement issued by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Michael Esquash is the Cultural Support/Resource Worker for Swan Lake First Nations, he shares today marks the longest day of the year being the summer solstice, and which recognizes the significance of indigenous, Inuit, and Metis people in Canada and the community.

Esquash notes that community is important, working with a number of Ukrainian groups throughout the area, to create relationships and learn more about each other's cultures.

There are a lot of questions people have about Indigenous cultures and these opportunities allow one to educate oneself says Esquash.

"You kind of get an understanding of what we're about in terms of identity, heritage, history, as well as tradition, spirituality, ceremony and such like that."

By learning more about each other Esquash says we can learn what is similar between cultures and gain a greater appreciation.

On June 29 - July 1 Swan Lake First Nations will be holding a Celebration Pow Wow, this celebration is a reflection of life and the connection Mother Earth has to all things.

 "You got to look at life and how we're intermixing and all connected," says Esquash. "I think that's what we need to focus on is the good and positive things in life and stop looking at what's so different, when we do that we're separating each other, and we don't need to separate each other anymore."

All are invited to the Pow Wow, which will include music, dance, crafts, food, and allow everyone to honour life and the good which it has given us.