Winnipeggers celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day at The Forks

Sights and sounds from Indigenous Peoples Day activities happening at The Forks on June 21, 2025.

The Forks marked National Indigenous Peoples Day on Saturday with a wide range of events and activities.

The event, a collaboration with the Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba (TRCM), the honoured the cultures, histories, and contributions of Indigenous people.

Events included a bannock breakfast, Kookum fashion show, and Indigenous handmade market. In addition, the Píhtikwé Skatepark accepted donations for the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs for wildfire support.

“We’re celebrating all Manitobans both today and through the next couple of days as well,” said Tineke Buiskool-Leeuwma, Communications and Marketing Advisor for The Forks.

“The Forks is an original meeting place for over 6,000 years, so people have been gathering here forever, and it’s just a great place to bring people together from all over Manitoba,” Buiskool-Leeuwma said.

Saturday’s events ran from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with additional programming on Sunday from noon to 3 p.m.

The two-day event is part of The Forks 11-day celebration of “Many Nations, One Heartbeat”, connecting National Indigenous Peoples Day and Canada Day. Each day features free, family-friendly programming to celebrate parties to the treaties and those who live on treaty land today.

There are several other National Indigenous Peoples Day events happening throughout Manitoba this weekend including a day-long celebration at Assiniboine Park on Sunday.