National Indigenous History Month: Learning, Listening, and Supporting

June is National Indigenous History Month in Canada.

For many people, it is a time to reflect — a moment in the calendar that invites pause, curiosity, and a deeper kind of attention. For us at Kebaonish, it is something more personal than a designated month. It is a reminder of why we started, what we are building, and who we are building it for.

This June, we want to share what this month means to us — and offer some thoughtful ways you can show up for Indigenous communities in a way that lasts well beyond June 30th.

A Month With Real Meaning

National Indigenous History Month was officially recognized in Canada in 2009. It is a time to honour the history, heritage, resilience, and diversity of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples across Turtle Island.

June 21st — National Indigenous Peoples Day — sits at the heart of the month, coinciding with the summer solstice, a day that holds deep cultural and spiritual significance for many Indigenous nations. But the month as a whole is an invitation: to learn, to listen, and to support in ways that are genuine.

It is worth saying clearly — one month is not enough. The histories being honoured here are complex, layered, and ongoing. The work of reconciliation, respect, and right relationship does not begin and end with a calendar. But months like this one can be a meaningful starting point, especially for those who are newer to this learning.

What Learning Can Look Like

There is no single path to understanding Indigenous history and culture — it is vast and varied, spanning hundreds of distinct nations, languages, and traditions across this land.

But learning does not have to feel overwhelming. It can be as simple as:

Reading one book. Authors like Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, Robin Wall Kimmerer, and Cherie Dimaline offer windows into Indigenous experience, thought, and storytelling that are both accessible and profound.

Following Indigenous voices online. Knowledge keepers, artists, language preservationists, and community leaders share their perspectives across social media every day. June is a good time to seek those voices out — and then keep following them in July.

Learning about whose land you are on. If you are not sure, Native Land Digital (native-land.ca) is a powerful and humbling place to start. Knowing the name of the territory you call home is a small act that carries real meaning.

Sitting with discomfort. Some of what there is to learn about Indigenous history in Canada is painful. That discomfort is not a reason to look away — it is a reason to stay present.

What Listening Can Look Like

Learning and listening are related, but they are not the same thing.

Learning is often something we do on our own terms — choosing a book, a podcast, a documentary. Listening asks more. It asks us to receive what is being shared, without rushing to respond or fix or explain.

This month, we encourage you to seek out opportunities where Indigenous people are speaking — in your community, at local events, in podcast interviews, in personal essays — and to listen in the truest sense. Not to gather information, but to be changed by what you hear.

Many Indigenous-led organizations across Canada host events, panels, and ceremonies during June. Attending as a respectful guest — or simply amplifying those events in your networks — is a meaningful act of support.

What Supporting Can Look Like

Supporting Indigenous communities does not require grand gestures. Consistent, considered action is worth far more.

Buy from Indigenous-owned businesses. This is one of the most direct ways to put resources back into Indigenous communities. When you choose to purchase from businesses like Kebaonish, you are participating in economic reconciliation — supporting Indigenous entrepreneurship and the livelihoods it builds.

Advocate where you have influence. In your workplace, your school, your neighbourhood association — raising questions about land acknowledgements, Indigenous representation, and equitable policies creates ripples. You do not have to have all the answers to open the conversation.

Support Indigenous-led organizations. Many organizations working in language preservation, housing, youth programming, and cultural reclamation are underfunded and deeply impactful. Even small donations or sharing their work can make a real difference.

Show up year-round. June matters. And so does July, and October, and February. The most meaningful form of allyship is the kind that does not require a reminder.

What This Month Means to Us

At Kebaonish, every tea we make is inspired by Indigenous traditional knowledge, wisdom, and worldview. Our blends are inspired by the Seven Grandfather Teachings — values like honesty, humility, respect, and love that have guided Anishinaabe communities for generations. These are not just names on a label. They are an invitation to carry those teachings into your daily life, one cup at a time.

We are proud to be an Indigenous-led company operating in this landscape — and we are grateful to the community of people who choose to support us, month after month.

This June, we hope you will take a moment to learn something new, listen to a voice you have not heard before, and support the Indigenous-owned businesses and organizations around you in whatever way you can.

It does not have to be perfect. It just has to be real.

Explore Our Teas, Rooted in Indigenous Tradition

Each Kebaonish tea blend is crafted with intention, guided by traditional knowledge, and named for one of the Seven Grandfather Teachings.

→ Explore the full collection: proudlyindigenous.com/collections/tea

If you are looking for a meaningful gift this June — for yourself or someone in your community — our teas are a small and genuine way to support an Indigenous-led business while embracing the values of wellness and reciprocity.

Thank you for being part of this community. We are honoured to be on this journey with you.