News release

For immediate release

Lieutenant Governors message

on National Aboriginal Day
Toronto, June 21, 2016. Her Honour the Hon. Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario,
has released the following message on the occasion of National Aboriginal Day:
This year marks the 20th anniversary of National Aboriginal Day. This milestone comes at a
moment when we can look forward with hope and optimism. Last month, Ontario presented its
statement of commitment to reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, and formally apologized for
its role in sustaining policies of cultural assimilation. This was a significant moment, and it is a
declaration that Ontarians, through their elected representatives, are now committed to healing
and reconciliation.
It is in this spirit that today I join with leaders of civil society in Brantford at the Woodland
Cultural Centre, the site of the former Mohawk Institute Residential School, in dialogue about
how best to create partnerships in pursuit of reconciliation. Together, we can address our past
and forge a future defined by renewed relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous
Peoples.
As we look forward to the 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017, I encourage all Ontarians
to listen, and to learn more about the ancient and enduring heritage of First Nations, Mtis, and
Inuit Peoples, as together we shape our collective future. Let us all celebrate the strength,
perseverance, wisdom, and courage of Indigenous Peoples.
National Aboriginal Day is celebrated annually on June 21.
Celebrate the 20th anniversary of National Aboriginal Day by using the hashtag #NADCanada
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Contact:

John Gross
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
john.gross@ontario.ca
416-325-7786

www.lgontario.ca