McMaster University on Thursday condemned the "big mistake" in referring to John A. MacDonald, the former Prime Minister of Canada, apologized.

McDonald's Day, celebrated on January 11, is named after McDonald, Canada's first Prime Minister. However, McDonald's has been criticized for its role in discriminatory policies against Indigenous Canadians.

In a statement, McMaster University said it "made a mistake" in naming McDonald's Day as "Canada's National Day." The university said the mistake was "disrespectful" to Indigenous Canadians and it "seriously regrets it."

The university said it is currently undertaking "remedial work," including holding events to educate staff and students about Canada's aboriginal history.

The mistake comes at a time when Canadian universities are rethinking how they treat Canada's Aboriginal history. In 2022, York University in Toronto announced that it will eliminate McDonald's Day.

"McMaster University is committed to creating a campus environment that is welcoming and supportive to all students and staff, including Indigenous people," a McMaster University statement said. "We want to make sure that all of our students and staff are aware of and respectful of Canada's Aboriginal history and culture."

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