The City of Portage la Prairie has made history this morning by joining forces with local First Nations to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day.

Each year National Indigenous Peoples Day is held on June 21 because many Indigenous communities celebrate their culture and heritage due to the significance of the summer solstice as the longest day of the year. This morning at City Hall, delegates were on hand to sign a proclamation and raise a flag. Mayor Irvine Ferris explains.

"This is the first time we've done this in Portage la Prairie, and I believe it's long overdue," says Ferris.
"First Nations communities are our oldest friends, partners and allies. We work together on a lot of things now, and it's important when they progress, we progress. If they don't, we don't."

The day was first commemorated Canada-wide in 1995 and has grown ever since. Throughout the day, many local Indigenous communities will be celebrating and holding festivities in acknowledgement.

"As we know, with the disturbing discovery a few weeks back, I think Canadians are beginning to appreciate and understand the challenges that Indigenous people have faced," says Chief Dennis Meeches of Long Plain First Nation. "There's a lot of work to do going forward with Long Plain and the other treaty reserves. There's a lot of reconciliation that needs to happen, and I appreciate the government officials that support the Indigenous cause."

Chief Eric Pashe of Dakota Tipi could not attend due to prior commitments but in a statement says: "This event is a good start towards, in part, some of the action items we need to work towards to help better achieve reconciliation between all of our people."

This year is the 25th anniversary of the holiday coming into existence, and Meeches says they've done a lot to celebrate as a community.

"Yesterday Long Plain had our acknowledgement and recognition of the Treaty 1 adhesion, and we've been acknowledging it for a very, very long time," says Meeches. "But, we do need to engage (with the city more) and with the Keeshkeemaquah reserve adjacent to Portage. There's a lot of work that's being undertaken over there."

Portage Online will have more coverage throughout the day of other National Indigenous Peoples Day events taking place throughout the region.