May 18, 2021

Winnipeg, Man. – APTN is thrilled to announce that APTN Indigenous Day Live (IDL) is back on June 20 to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day (NIPD) with a lineup of incredibly talented performers!

APTN Indigenous Day Live 2021 pairs Indigenous artists with Canadian music icons for a refreshing line-up of collaborations in English, French and Indigenous languages. The multi-platform broadcast takes audiences across the country to stages in Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal and Dartmouth, N.S., to showcase and celebrate First Nations, Inuit and Métis cultures and milestones.

Join hosts Earl Wood and Janelle Wookey for IDL 2021, featuring performances by Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Tom Wilson, iskwē, Neon Dreams, Julian Taylor, Charlotte Cardin and more!

This year’s IDL coincides with the 25th NIPD and the delayed celebrations of Manitoba’s 150th anniversary, which were postponed by a year due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Tribute segments for Manitoba’s sesquicentennial and the 25th anniversary of NIPD are woven throughout IDL 2021, portraying the history of Indigenous Peoples and their contributions to Canada.

“We are so thrilled to have IDL return this year,” says APTN CEO Monika Ille. “After postponing IDL 2020, and later broadcasting our first-ever IDL Winter Solstice, it feels wonderful to return to our roots in celebration of NIPD. We can’t wait to connect with our audience across Canada as we continue to share our stories, cultures and music.”

The generous financial support from the Government of Canada has enabled APTN Indigenous Day Live to expand its reach year after year and to bring communities together in celebration of NIPD.

“To mark the 25th anniversary of National Indigenous Peoples Day, watching IDL 2021 presented by APTN is a must,” said the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Heritage. “The Government of Canada is proud to support this important event celebrating the rich and diverse heritage of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.”

Other partners behind this unique edition of IDL include: The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada, the Province of Nova Scotia, TD Bank Group, The North West Company, Manitoba Hydro and Yukon Energy.

June 21 marks the longest day of the year. Wookey reflects on the upcoming summer solstice:

“It’s been quite a year for everyone and as we know, Indigenous people have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. A brighter year is ahead and my belief, and sincere hope, is that this year’s summer solstice and IDL celebrations are coming at a turning point, marking the beginning of that bright new year,” Wookey said. “In the wake of so much pain and isolation, it’s to be a year many of us will spend reconnecting with our communities and focusing on the very teachings and symbolisms of the summer solstice itself: healing, renewal and unity.”

Broadcast Details:

Join in the IDL celebrations on Sunday, June 20, 2021, from 8 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. ET on APTN, APTN lumi and participating Indigenous radio stations. The 3.5-hour event repeats on June 21, 2021. Visit indigenousdaylive.ca for more information and the complete IDL 2021 roster.

Don’t miss the opportunity to celebrate IDL 2021 with APTN!

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About APTN Indigenous Day Live
APTN Indigenous Day Live (IDL) has been held annually since 2007 and is the largest celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Day and the summer solstice in Canada. APTN presents a free daytime program of activities and an evening concert in Winnipeg. Over the years, IDL has grown in size and has been hosted in multiple cities. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a pre-recorded adaptation of IDL is presented in 2021. The multi-platform concert broadcast is available to all Canadians and beyond on APTN and APTN lumi. To join the conversation anytime, use the hashtag #IDL2021 or #JAD2021.

For more information on today’s announcement, visit indigenousdaylive.ca or contact:

Source:
Emili Bellefleur
Manager of Communications, APTN
(438) 349-2456
[email protected]