As part of CBC’s ongoing commitment to reflect Indigenous communities from coast to coast to coast, the public broadcaster is recognizing National Indigenous History Month and National Indigenous Peoples Day with programming that showcases First Nations, Inuit, and Métis perspectives and experiences.
National Indigenous History Month honours the history, heritage and diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis across the country. It is also an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the strength of Indigenous communities by sharing present-day stories from an Indigenous point of view, told by Indigenous-led creative teams.
CBC aims to amplify diverse Indigenous voices year-round, offering national audiences authentic and engaging storytelling that can’t be found anywhere else. A selection of CBC’s broad range of programming available on broadcast, streaming, audio and digital platforms in June and beyond is highlighted below:
Available in June on CBC platforms:
- CBC Indigenous is a year-round source for stories covering First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities. Reporting from a team of Indigenous journalists across the country this June will include finding out what it’s like to take on the role of raising bison for your community in Starblanket First Nation; reflections on what a treaty signed 300 years ago with the Mi’kmaq, Wolastoiyik, and Peskotomuhkati people means for Wabanaki treaty rights today; unpacking the complicated legacy of Kanien’kehá:ka poet Pauline Johnson; and Flower Day family traditions in Pheasant Rump Nakota First Nation. Available on the CBC Indigenous YouTube and TikTok channels, and CBC News streaming platforms.
CBC TV
A selection of Indigenous-led documentaries, films and series will air on Sunday, June 21, including:
- 2026 Indspire Awards - 7 p.m. (7:30 NT) on CBC TV and CBC Gem
Thirteen outstanding Indigenous achievers from First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities will be honoured during the broadcast of the 2026 Indspire Awards. Co-hosts Zorga Qaunaq and Jennifer Kilabuk from CBC, APTN and Netflix’s hit series North of North, bring their playful chemistry and humour to this annual celebration. Over more than 30 years, the Indspire Awards have honoured over 400 First Nations, Inuit and Métis for their outstanding contributions in leadership, culture, innovation, sport, education, and community impact. The 2026 Inspire Awards marks the introduction of a new Music Award. More information about the 2026 recipients is available on the Indspire laureates webpage.
- The Good Canadian - 8 p.m. (8:30 NT) on CBC TV (streaming now on CBC Gem)
(88 min, Documentary, directed by Leena Minifie & David Paperny, produced in association with CBC, APTN and Stories First Productions)
The world knows the image of the good Canadian. But what if there was a dark secret behind a national identity? The Good Canadian explores the idea of a True North strong and free. In this unflinching and eye-opening documentary, directors Leena Minifie and David Paperny move us through the corridors of systemic inequity, from the Indian Act to residential schools, to modern-day family separation. Fusing shocking footage with detailed interviews with experts, advocates, whistleblowers and politicians, The Good Canadian challenges national myth-making, while offering Canadians the chance to forge a new identity from the truth.
CBC Gem
- Maamuitaau is a weekly, Cree-language current affairs program with English subtitles on CBC Gem, CBC North and CBC Montreal, bringing the stories of the James Bay Crees to life. In English, MAAMUITAAU means "let's get together," which reflects the spirit of the show. The long-running series from the CBC Cree Unit covers a broad range of topics including social and political issues, environmental changes, and traditional subjects such as hunting and crafts. Observational, engaging, and at times poetic, the show transports you to Quebec's North and to the heart of Cree culture.
- CBC Gem’s Indigenous Stories Collection features a variety of series, documentaries and feature films including documentary Channel Originals Ni-Naadamaadiz: Red Power Rising from Shane Belcourt and Tanya Talaga chronicling the 1974 Anishinaabe land-back occupation, with both English and Anishinaabemowin versions available, and Rising Through the Fray, following roller derby team Indigenous Rising as it welcomes a new generation of players set on changing the face of the sport. Archival feature doc The Stand recreates a historic Haida Nation protest. The docuseries Treaty Road is a moving journey across treaty territories that unearths untold truths and brings Indigenous voices to the forefront; roundtable series Rematriate the Lens, amplifying the voices of 16 Indigenous women in film and television, including Maika Harper, Devery Jacobs, Anna Lambe, and Jennifer and Tamara Podemski; and the exclusive Canadian premiere of Australian miniseries Goolagong, celebrating the life of world champion tennis icon Evonne Goolagong. Horror-comedy film Seeds from first-time feature director Kaniehtiio Horn; and New Zealand period drama We Were Dangerous, about three rebellious girls who bond together when sent to an island institution.
- Also streaming now on CBC Gem, locally produced series Absolutely Canadian features powerful Indigenous-themed documentaries from communities across Canada. Hope Makers: Pisuwin goes behind the scenes of the first-ever Wolastoqiyik ballet, Pisuwin, on the road to its world premiere in Fredericton. In Return of the Spirit Horses, an Indigenous filmmaker reconnects with the nearly extinct Ojibwe Spirit Horses. Under the Arbor is a celebration of dance, music, culture and family along Alberta's Powwow trail (also available in Plains Cree); Northlore elevates extraordinary true stories of survival on the land through animation, while in New Blood we meet Chief Vincent Yellow Old Woman, who went to residential school at age five. Now his grandkids and the next generation of Siksika Nation find healing through dance, theatre, and the music of Peter Gabriel. And Canoe Carry Me Home (June 21) explores an Indigenous filmmaker’s journey to reconnect with his culture, land, and community by returning to Walpole Island and rebuilding his great-great-grandfather’s canoe.
CBC Radio and CBC Listen
- ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᖏᑦ (Inuit Unikkaangit) with Mary Powder (New episodes available weekly on CBC Listen beginning late June) Host and archivist Mary Powder reunites Inuit with stories from CBC North’s vast Inuktitut language archives by replaying them for the descendants of the original storytellers, some of whom are hearing them for the very first time.
- Unreserved with Rosanna Deerchild (New episodes available Fridays everywhere podcasts are available, and airing Sundays at 2 p.m. (2:30 NT) and Tuesdays at 1 p.m. (1:30 NT) on CBC Radio and CBC Listen). Rosanna Deerchild guides listeners to learn, unlearn, and laugh together on a path to better understanding through new weekly episodes. Unreserved is Canada’s only national radio program dedicated to Indigenous voices.
On Sunday, June 21st, Unreserved is going live from The Forks in Winnipeg. National Indigenous Peoples Day is celebrated at The Forks each year with tens of thousands of people coming through to celebrate with powwows, land-based teachings, storytelling circles and entertainment. Rosanna Deerchild and special guests will explore how the resurgence of culture, such as the return of some dances that were almost lost, are enhancing the way people gather and celebrate on these special occasions.
- Q with Tom Power (Friday, June 19 at 10 a.m. (10:30 NT) on CBC Radio and CBC Listen)
Jenn Harper is the founder of Cheekbone Beauty, which aims to bring positive representation of Indigenous folks into the beauty space. She joins Tom Power to talk about the dream that inspired her to start the business, why Indigenous joy is the cornerstone of her business and why representation is at the forefront of everything she does.
Also on Q, highlights from recent conversations with Jeremy Dutcher and Tia Wood, will air in the week of June 15.
- Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud (Friday June 19 at 11 a.m. (11:30 NT) on CBC Radio, CBC Listen and the CBC YouTube channel)
With Manitoba-based indie-rock artist Zoon set to release their third album, Happy Thought School, the Commotion Group Chat looks at the growing number of Indigenous artists embracing the blissfully blown-out sounds of shoegaze music as a means to explore identity and support healing in their communities.
- Bookends with Mattea Roach (Sunday, June 21 at 1 p.m. (1:30 NT, 3 PT) and Wednesday, June 24 at 1 p.m. (1:30 NT) on CBC Radio and CBC Listen)
Mattea Roach will speak to queer Nisga’a writer Jordan Abel about his new poetry collection, Dad Era, which is a lighthearted exploration of Indigenous knowledge transmission, parenting and toxic constructions of "fatherhood" on the internet. Abel has won many awards for his work, including the Griffin Poetry Prize and the Governor General’s Award.
- The Next Chapter with Antonio Michael Downing (Saturdays at 3 p.m. (3:30 NT) and Mondays at 2 p.m. (2:30 NT, 5pm MT, 5pm PT) on CBC Radio and CBC Listen)
Throughout June, The Next Chapter will feature book recommendations from 2026 Indspire Award laureates.
For more reading suggestions highlighting Indigenous writers across all genres visit cbcbooks.ca.
- Forged (all six episodes available now everywhere podcasts are available)
Known as the “Picasso of the North,” Norval Morrisseau is one of the most celebrated Indigenous artists in the world. But when a rock star gets a tip about the authenticity of his Morrisseau painting, he discovers a sinister underworld with thousands of forged paintings, millions of dollars in profits, multiple fraud rings, and even a suspected murder. Host Adrian Stimson, an artist from the Siksika Nation, travels from Thunder Bay to the Northern Territory of Australia, to reveal what is believed to be the largest art crime fraud in the world. A six-part podcast from CBC and ABC in Australia, and 2026 Digital Publishing Awards’ Gold winner for Best Podcast: Arts, Culture & Society.
CBC Music
- Reclaimed with Jarrett Martineau (Wednesdays 6 p.m. (6:30 NT) and Saturdays 5 p.m. (5:30 NT) on CBC Music, Monday 3 p.m. (3:30 NT) on CBC Radio)
All month long, Reclaimed’s 'DJ dance party' series celebrates the vibrancy and diversity of Indigenous cultures across Turtle Island from a lineup of Indigenous DJs.
- Drive with Rich Terfry (Weekdays at 3:00 p.m. (3:30 NT) on CBC Music and CBC Listen)
On June 19, Drive's Rich Terfry takes an hour-long Deep Dive into Mi'kmaq/Scottish singer-songwriter and activist Willie Dunn's 1971 self-titled album.
- Weekend Mornings with Saroja Coelho (Saturday and Sunday 6 a.m. - 9 a.m. on CBC Music and CBC Listen)
On Sunday, June 21st, Weekend Mornings with Saroja Coelho will celebrate National Indigenous People's Day with three hours of contemporary pop music from Indigenous artists.
- Choral Concert with Frédéricka Petit-Homme (Sunday 9 a.m. on CBC Music and CBC Listen)
Frédéricka marks National Indigenous Peoples Day with Ispiciwin (Journey), a choral suite by Cree composer Andrew Balfour, performed by Calgary's Luminous Voices. You'll also hear the Canadian Chamber Choir sing highlights from Where Waters Meet, a work by Carmen Braden that includes poetry by Anishinaabe/Ojibwe/South Asian playwright Yolanda Bonnell.
- In Concert with Paolo Pietropaolo (Sunday 11 a.m. (11:30 NT) on CBC Music and CBC Listen)
On Sunday, June 21st, In Concert celebrates music by Indigenous composers, including new music from Métis composer Pat Carrabré, a performance by l'Orchestre Métropolitain of Montreal in Europe featuring music by Anishinaabe composer Barbara Assiginaak, and a concert by Ensemble Made in Canada featuring music by Dene fiddler and composer Wesley Hardisty.
- Concert series CBC Music Live with Odario Williams features live audio recordings of Indigenous artists in June. Recorded at venues around Toronto, the lineup includes Oji-Cree singer-songwriter Aysanabee’s show from the Axis Club in Toronto (June 15); Afro-Indigenous, singer-songwriter Julian Taylor, live from the TD Music Hall (June 22); and Inuk musician, Elisapie, live from The Opera House in Toronto (June 29). A video version of Julian Taylor’s full TD Music Hall performance is available now on CBC Gem.
- CBC Music recommends Indigenous musicians to know in 2026. These emerging Indigenous artists are carving out spaces for themselves with their music, from soulful singer-songwriters to fiddlers who are embracing folk and country, to experimental rockers.
- Reverie, CBC and SOCAN's Indigenous Music Residency, returns for a third year. Participants will be announced in June.
CBC Kids News
- CBC Kids News visited Miskooseepi School in Bloodvein River First Nation, Manitoba, where students learned traditional ways of living off the land from community knowledge keepers during Culture Week. More real news stories for real kids are available on CBCKidsNews.ca and the CBC Kids News YouTube channel.
CBC Kids
- Sara Kanutski teaches a new Anishinaabemowin word of the day, weekday mornings in June at 7:52 a.m. on CBC TV or anytime on the CBC Kids YouTube channel.
- New videos on the CBC Kids YouTube channel include Storytime: Bannock in a Hammock written by Masiana Kelly and illustrated by Amiel Sandland, and read by Riker in Calgary, Alberta. This story explores a popular traditional Indigenous food, and all the ways to eat it! Plus, Oji-Cree artist, Anachnid, performs her song, Braids.
For images from CBC Gem titles, please visit the CBC Media Centre and sign in/request accreditation. Please credit photos: Courtesy of CBC.
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CBC Indigenous drives coverage of and for First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities led by a team of Indigenous journalists across the country. They deliver critical, creative and diverse journalism to audiences when and where they need it. The CBC Cree unit includes the award-winning East Cree-language radio shows Winschgaoug and Eyou Dipajimoon, which broadcast daily Monday to Friday on CBC Radio and CBC Listen. CBC North further broadens Canadians’ understanding of Indigenous experiences across the country with content available in six Indigenous languages.
CBC Indigenous Pathways is back for its fifth year. Pathways is a paid, full-time, nine-month learning and development opportunity for First Nations, Inuit and Métis seeking to develop careers with the public broadcaster. Candidates hone their skills as part of an Indigenous peer cohort, while receiving culturally relevant programming, as well as mentorship and development opportunities across the country. Be the first to know when the application window opens in July by signing up for the Indigenous Pathways newsletter, a monthly newsletter sharing Indigenous-specific learning and development opportunities.
Launched in February 2024, the National Indigenous Strategy Strengthening Relations, Walking Together is CBC/Radio-Canada’s collective commitment to examine our content and relationships with Indigenous Peoples, honestly and truthfully.
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About CBC/Radio-Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada’s trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages: Dëne Sųłıné, Dene Kǝdǝ́, Dene Zhatıé, Eastern Cree, Dinjii Zhuʼ Ginjik, Inuktitut, Inuvialuktun and Tłı̨chǫ. We also deliver content in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Punjabi and Tagalog, as well as both official languages, through Radio Canada International (RCI). We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world.
