21 June 2013
Ottawa, Ontario
Prime Minister Stephen Harper today issued the following statement on the occasion of National Aboriginal Day:
“Today we honour the contributions Aboriginal peoples have made to the shaping of the Canada we know today, and celebrate their unique cultural identities.
“Recognizing the importance of Aboriginal peoples to the country’s continued growth and prosperity, our Government has made important progress in the past year on priorities such as land claims, education, safe drinking water, health, economic development, and job training. Aboriginal contributions to the War of 1812 were also officially recognized.
“While our Government has made unprecedented investments that will help improve Aboriginal peoples’ lives, it is also important today to recognize that much work still needs to be done. I look forward to working closely with Aboriginal leaders in the coming year to achieve progress on shared priorities in order to improve the long-term prosperity of Aboriginal peoples and all Canadians.
“As we acknowledge National Aboriginal Day, I encourage all Canadians to participate in celebratory events being held across the country and to learn more about both the immense contributions of Aboriginal peoples to Canada.”
