Happy National Aboriginal Day!

Source: Canadian Heritage

Today is the summer equinox, the longest day of the year, and officially recognized in Canada as National Aboriginal Day. For those of you who are Aboriginal (or native, Indian, Indigenous - OK, that's another blogpost), I'm sure every day is Aboriginal day, but it's still a nice gesture that the Governor General proclaimed this day, back in 1996 as an officially recognized day to celebrate our cultures.

So for those of you who have the day off to do just that, enjoy yourselves. For those who have to be at work, then at least spend a few minutes saying hello to all your Aboriginal friends, watch an Aboriginal film (Dances With Wolves doesn't count), attend a National Aboriginal Day event in your neighbourhood or find some other way to celebrate that won't get you or your boss in trouble.

We still have a long way to go; I am reminded of Ottawa comedian Don Kelly's great line: "Wonderful. We Aboriginal people get a whole day. In Ottawa, even the tulips get a week!"

But still - it's still a good day to be indigenous (or Indian or Aboriginal--OK, I know, enough already)

Happy National Aboriginal Day!