Today is Canada's National Aboriginal Day

Celebrations are taking place across the country today to mark National Aboriginal Day.

It's a day to celebrate and honour the celebrate the cultural and contributions of First Nation, Inuit and Metis people.

National Aboriginal Day is always held on June 21 because of the cultural significance of the first day of summer and longest day of the year - the rebirth of Mother Earth.

It was first proclaimed 12 years ago by a Liberal government.

Liberal Leader Stephane Dion says the day honours and pays tribute to the immense contribution the Aboriginal people make to the social, economic and cultural fabric of Canadian society.

This year's celebration comes less than two weeks after Prime Minister Stephen Harper formally apologized on behalf of the government for the legacy of residential schools, where many young people suffered abuse and neglect.

Dion is paying special tribute to some of the individuals who made the apology possible, including Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine, who is himself a survivor of the residential school tragedy.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued a statement Friday that boasts of significant progress on a range of Aboriginal issues, including land claims, education, housing, child and family services, safe drinking water, economic opportunity and the extension of human rights protection to First Nations individuals on reserve.