By Mark Squibb
Mount Pearl council last week unanimously approved a motion to rename the June 24th Discovery Day Holiday to National Indigenous Peoples Day.
“This change reflects our dedication to decolonizing municipal practices and promoting indigenous perspectives,” said Mayor Dave Aker. “It’s a meaningful step forward in our journey toward reconciliation and inclusivity.”
The decision was made in consultation with First Light St. John’s Friendship Centre. Municipal reconciliation liaison Shawn Broomfield and director of organizational effectiveness Heidi Dixon, both of First Light, attended the meeting and addressed council.
“This is a big deal,” said Broomfield, an Inuit of Labrador now living in Mount Pearl. “This is huge. It shows that you’re putting your money where your mouth is. Anybody can read off a land acknowledgement, but to back it up with action like this is so good to see.”
Broomfield said the move will make other indigenous people like himself feel more welcome in the community.
While the provincial government recognises the June Holiday – formerly Discovery Day — on the Monday nearest June 24, Mount Pearl’s National Indigenous Peoples Day will not align with the actual National Indigenous Peoples Day, which is celebrated annually on June 21.
The City of St. John’s renamed the June Holiday as National Indigenous Day last year, while the provincial government has been holding consultations regarding the renaming of the holiday since 2020.