Indigenous Peoples Day

Honoring Survival, Resilience, and Culture

Indigenous Peoples Day reorients the focus of a fall holiday from colonization to survival, resilience, and celebration of Native cultures. For decades, Columbus Day was observed on the second Monday in October to commemorate the 1492 voyage of Christopher Columbus. Yet for many Indigenous peoples, this narrative overlooked the devastating consequences of European colonization—disease, displacement, enslavement, and cultural erasure. The call to replace Columbus Day began decades ago, led by Native activists who sought recognition of their nations’ endurance and contributions.

Reclaiming the Day

In 1977, a United Nations conference on discrimination against Indigenous populations in the Americas proposed establishing a holiday honoring Indigenous peoples in place of Columbus Day. Momentum grew gradually. In 1990, South Dakota became the first state to replace Columbus Day with Native Americans’ Day. Two years later, Berkeley, California, declared the second Monday of October Indigenous Peoples Day, hosting powwows and solidarity marches. Throughout the 2010s, cities such as Seattle, Minneapolis, and Phoenix followed suit, recognizing that the celebration of colonization was incomplete without acknowledging those who were here first.

A National Shift

In 2021, President Joe Biden issued the first presidential proclamation recognizing Indigenous Peoples Day, encouraging Americans to celebrate the histories and cultures of Native nations. While Columbus Day remains a federal holiday, many states, cities, and universities now observe Indigenous Peoples Day instead. The holiday acknowledges the ancestral lands on which the United States was built and honors the contributions of Indigenous communities—from art and literature to governance models, medicine, and environmental stewardship.

Celebration and Ceremony

Across the country, Indigenous Peoples Day is marked with cultural celebrations and acts of remembrance. Ceremonies often feature traditional dances, drumming, and storytelling. In New Mexico, Pueblo communities share bread baked in hornos and perform harvest dances. In Alaska, Tlingit and Haida nations host canoe journeys to honor ancestral migrations. Many educational institutions organize talks, museum exhibits, and classroom lessons that highlight Indigenous innovation, leadership, and continued advocacy for treaty rights and sovereignty.

Reflection and Renewal

Observing Indigenous Peoples Day encourages deeper reflection on how history is told and whose stories are centered. It challenges the narrative of “discovery” and honors peoples who thrived on this continent long before European arrival. The day invites individuals to learn about Indigenous languages, technologies, and belief systems while recognizing contemporary struggles for land, water, and cultural preservation. It is both a celebration of endurance and a call to action—a reminder that understanding the past is essential to creating a more inclusive future.

Ways to Celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day

• Learn the history: Read Indigenous authors and historians who share perspectives on colonization, resilience, and sovereignty.
• Attend local events: Participate in powwows, film screenings, or cultural exhibits hosted by Native communities and organizations.
• Support Native artists and businesses: Purchase art, crafts, or goods directly from Indigenous creators to sustain local economies.
• Acknowledge the land: Research the Indigenous nations whose lands you live on and share that acknowledgment publicly or within your community.
• Engage with education: Encourage schools and libraries to include accurate Indigenous history and contemporary voices in their programs.
• Advocate for change: Support policies that protect Indigenous lands, languages, and cultural rights, ensuring these traditions thrive for future generations.