National Aboriginal Day

National Aboriginal Day is an event that introduced Sheila Karasiewicz to the beat of the drum.

In Anishinabek News

• June 2014: In 2014, Stan Beardy used this occasion to encourage the public to learn about shared history and Treaty rights. The day is observed on June 21.
• April 2015: Duncan Michano originally intended to hold a canoe trip in June 2015 to celebrate this occasion.
• June 2015: The artwork Tonto was donated to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre as part of the 2015 celebrations for this day.
• June 2015: The 2015 celebrations in North Bay included a ceremonial flag-raising at the city hall. A community event for the day was held at Garden Village with about 300 attendees.
• June 2015: In 2015, the Honouring Our Men Recognition Award ceremony was held on this day at Fort William First Nation.
• July 2015: Celebrations for the event at Mount McKay in 2015 included a ceremony for youth leadership graduates.
• June 2016: The 20th anniversary of the event was marked in North Bay with a ceremony raising the Nipissing First Nation flag. The 2015 celebration of this day served as the catalyst for discussions regarding a permanent flag display in North Bay. The Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services held a month of educational programming leading up to this day in 2016.
• July 2016: The 2016 event at Nipissing First Nation included a luncheon, a mini powwow, and educational booths. Attendance at the community festivities grew to over 500 people during the day-long celebration. Scott McLeod argued that the entire country celebrating this day represents a form of truth and reconciliation.
• July 2016: About 48 red dress pins were beaded at a booth during this event in 2016.
• September 2016: The I Am Indigenous project was launched on this day to celebrate First Nation pride and success stories.
• November 2016: The I Am Indigenous project was featured across multiple media platforms during this event to reach a wide audience.
• July 2017: The 2017 celebration at Nipissing First Nation included activities focused on language, ceremony, and traditional arts. As of July 2017, the federal government planned to rename the occasion to the National Day of Indigenous Peoples.
• July 2017: The 2017 celebrations in Thunder Bay included a teaching lodge that remained open to the public until July 2. The event featured a concert by Classic Roots and other performers at the Prince Arthur's Landing waterfront.
• September 2017: The Blue Sky Community Healing Centre hosted a Teaching Lodge on the Thunder Bay waterfront during this event.
• July 2020: Sheila Karasiewicz officially entered the dance circle for the first time during the 2002 celebrations. The event is held annually on June 21.