Proclamation Declaring June 21 of Each Year as National Aboriginal Day (SI/96-55)

Canada

Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom, Canada and Her other Realms and Territories QUEEN, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.

To All to Whom these Present shall come or whom the same may in anyway concern,

Greeting:

 A Proclamation

Whereas, the Constitution of Canada recognizes the existing rights of the Aboriginal peoples of Canada;

Whereas in the Constitution of Canada aboriginal peoples of Canada include the Indian, Inuit and Métis peoples of Canada;

Whereas the Aboriginal peoples of Canada have made and continue to make valuable contributions to Canadian society and it is considered appropriate that there be, in each year, a day to mark and celebrate these contributions and to recognize the different cultures of the Aboriginal peoples of Canada;

And Whereas many Aboriginal peoples celebrate the summer solstice, which has an important symbolism within their cultures;

Therefore, His Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, hereby directs that a proclamation do issue declaring June 21 of each year as “National Aboriginal Day”.

Of All of Which Our Loving Subjects and all others whom these Presents may concern are hereby required to take notice and to govern themselves accordingly.

In Testimony Whereof, We have cause these Our Letters to be made Patent and the Great Seal of Canada to be hereunto affixed. Witness: Our Right Trusty and Well-beloved Roméo A. LeBlanc, a Member of Our Privy Council for Canada, Chancellor and Principal Companion of Our Order of Canada, Chancellor and Commander of Our Order of Military Merit, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada.

At Our Government House, in Our City of Ottawa, this thirteenth day of June in the year of Our Lord one thousand nine hundred and ninety-six and in the forty-fifth year of Our Reign.