Winter solstice: A time of celebration, reflection and traditions for Indigenous people

December 21 marks the winter solstice—the shortest day and the longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. For Indigenous people celebrating winter solstice, it is a time to gather with family and community, share stories and celebrate traditional practices that honour the cycles of nature.

In 2022, we asked Indigenous people about their participation in traditional practices in the previous 12 months. This is what they told us.

Passing knowledge from one generation to the next

Celebrating Indigenous traditions such as winter solstice provides an opportunity to gather with family and community, and to honour the connections between the land and the community. Indeed, child development experts assert that fostering positive self-identity, tied to cultural connection and sense of belonging, makes for healthier children and adults.

Even the youngest children participate in cultural and harvesting activities, and this participation is increasing. In 2022, 70% of Indigenous children living off reserve aged 1 to 5 participated in at least one cultural or harvesting activity in the past year.

From 2006 to 2022, participation in seasonal activities like gathering goose eggs or wild plants has increased among off-reserve First Nations (8% to 13%), Métis (7% to 11%) and Inuit (17% to 28%) children aged 1 to 5.

In 2022, parents and grandparents were the most commonly cited supports for off-reserve First Nations, Métis and Inuit children to understand their culture and history. Among children aged 6 to 14, 67% of Inuit children, 58% of First Nations children living off reserve and 49% of Métis children had a parent who helped them understand First Nations, Métis and Inuit culture and history.

In addition, 46% of Inuit children, 36% of First Nations children living off reserve and 23% of Métis children had a grandparent or great-grandparent to help them understand their culture and history.

Over one in four Indigenous people harvest food from the land

Another way to mark the winter solstice is by sharing traditionally harvested food with family and community.

In 2022, 310,380 First Nations people living off reserve, Métis and Inuit aged 15 and older reported hunting, fishing or trapping in the past 12 months, with over one-third of participants doing so at least once a week during the harvest season (32% of First Nations people living off reserve, 36% of Métis, and 54% of Inuit). Indigenous men were more likely to report hunting, fishing or trapping in the previous 12 months than Indigenous women.

Among off-reserve First Nations people, Métis and Inuit who reported hunting, fishing or trapping in the past 12 months, most reported that they did so for their own or family use (72%, 69% and 87%, respectively), for pleasure and leisure (55%, 61% and 44%, respectively), and for cultural reasons (20%, 12% and 39%, respectively).

Approximately 297,700 Indigenous people aged 15 and older reported gathering wild plants like berries or wild rice in 2022 (26% of First Nations people living off reserve, 25% of Métis, and 40% of Inuit), with women more likely to do so than men.

Among those who reported gathering wild plants in the past 12 months, 86% of First Nations people living off reserve, 87% of Metis and 89% of Inuit did so for their own use or family use.

About one-third of First Nations people living off reserve (31%) and Inuit (33%), and less than one-fifth of Métis (18%) did so for cultural reasons.

In 2022, approximately one-fifth of off-reserve First Nations people (22%) and Métis (19%), and over one-third of Inuit (37%) gathered wild plants in the past 12 months to share with their community.

Almost one in four Indigenous people aged 15 and older make carvings, drawings or other kinds of artwork

Some families may gather to make traditional handicrafts during the winter solstice, such as sewing clothing or footwear, or carving, making jewellery or other artwork.

Traditional Inuit clothing and footwear, often made of sealskin and caribou, requires highly developed expertise and skill to make. Traditional parkas, like an amauti, and footwear, like mukluks have allowed Inuit to survive in the extreme cold of winter. In 2022, 37% of Inuit women reported making clothing or footwear in the past 12 months, with 90% reporting doing so for their family or own use.

In 2022, about one-quarter of First Nations people living off reserve (25%), Métis (22%) and Inuit (21%) aged 15 years and older made carvings, drawings, jewellery or other kinds of artwork in the past 12 months, while 7% of off-reserve First Nations people, 6% of Métis, 22% of Inuit made clothing or footwear. Women were much more likely to make clothing or carve, draw, make jewellery or artwork than men.

Among those who reported carving, drawing, or making jewellery or other artwork in 2022, 68% of off-reserve First Nations people, 72% of Métis and 60% of Inuit did so for pleasure or leisure. Other commonly reported reasons included for family or own use (off-reserve First Nations people 54%, Métis 52% and Inuit 56%) or for cultural reasons (off-reserve First Nations people 28%, Métis 18% and Inuit 31%).

Interested in learning more?

An infographic highlighting Indigenous youth and their participation in traditional practices will be released in January 2025.