Today is Aboriginal Justice Awareness Day. Portage Friendship Centre Career Consultant Jeanna Emms explains what it's all about.

"It came out of the whole J.J. Harper thing 25 years ago. And today there's still injustice. With all of our accomplishments, this should be high on the list of working on things with regarding justice right until today with Tina Fontaine. A lot of walks are going on right now for this kind of thing."

John Joseph Harper was 37-years old when he was shot and killed by the Winnipeg City Police in March of 1988 and was a member of the Wasagamack Indian Band in the Island Lake area, was executive director of the Island Lake Tribal Council and a leader in Manitoba’s Aboriginal community.

Emms says indigenous offices across the country will be closed today, which is also known as Human Trafficking Awareness Day in Canada.

"It's a continuous thing," continues Emms. "There are always issues with the Police and with indigenous people. I think it's perceived that way often, but it's pretty true. It's a work in progress. Every day you can read something in the news about an injustice of some sort."