June 15, 2020
Tune into the Summer Solstice Concert on June 21 and Concert du solstice d’été on June 22 for a virtual celebration in honour of National Indigenous Peoples Day.
National Aboriginal Day, as it was named at the time, was first celebrated on June 21, 1996. On June 21, 2017, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a statement announcing the government’s intention to rename it to National Indigenous Peoples Day. The Summer Solstice Concerts will be a televised broadcast to celebrate the unique heritage and contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples. With a mix of music and celebration, we will be united together in harmony.
The northern hemisphere’s summer solstice coincides with National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21. The summer solstice is culturally significant to many Indigenous cultures. In the spirit of all good things to come, we welcome the coming season.
In a special two-hour event on June 21, Charles Bender hosts the Summer Solstice Concert, featuring Indigenous artists from coast-to-coast-to-coast. Join Carolina East, Cris Derksen, Federal Lights, G.R. Gritt, Ghostkeeper, Julian Taylor, Leela Gilday, Nelson Tagoona, Sierra Noble, Susan Aglukark and Twin Flames as we gather through music to celebrate.
On June 22, catch the one-hour French broadcast, Concert du solstice d’été, with Burnstick, Elisapie, Florent Vollant, Samian, Shauit. We can’t be together in person, but we can be part of a celebration together.
Art has always been an integral part of the preservation and expression of culture in Indigenous communities. Today, the Indigenous music community is categorized by immense diversity. Showcasing Indigenous cultures and talent has been at the forefront of APTN’s mission ever since the network began in 1999.
For the time being, streaming concerts is a safe way for an audience to experience an event.
“APTN is pleased to bring an amazing lineup of artists to perform for our viewers in this unique form,” says APTN’s CEO Monika Ille. “This personal, intimate experience will highlight how we as Indigenous Peoples can come together and celebrate our resilience and talent as a nation.”
APTN is excited to make celebratory content accessible to our communities when we need it most. With the support from our incredible community, this event will feature artists from all over Canada who appeal to all ages.
Broadcast details:
On June 21, tune into APTN from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. ET/CT/MT on aptn e/hd/n/w for the English broadcast.
On June 22, tune into our French celebration, Concert du solstice d’été from 8 p.m. – 9 p.m. ET on aptn e.
Check your local listings for airtimes and re-runs in your region! The televised broadcasts will be available for streaming on APTN lumi 24 hours after they have aired.
Don’t miss the opportunity to tune into the magic of the Summer Solstice Concert 2020, together in harmony. Join the conversation on Twitter or Instagram by tagging your posts with #summersolstice2020 or #solsticedété2020.
For more information please check out aptn.ca/summersolstice or aptn.ca/solsticedete.