In Washington D.C. and across the country today is Indigenous People’s Day, a holiday that recognizes, honors and celebrates Indigenous people, cultures and history.
Indigenous Peoples’ Day was first proposed in 1977 during the United Nations International Conference Discrimination against Indigenous People in the Americas. “Indigenous Peoples’ Day recognizes that Native people are the first inhabitants of the Americas, including the lands that later became the United States of America. And it urges Americans to rethink history.” The first state to adopt Indigenous Peoples’ Day as a recognized holiday was South Dakota in 1990 and since then more states have replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day or celebrate the two holidays together. The movement to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day is still ongoing as more states, towns and localities draft and adopt resolutions to recognize this holiday in lieu of Columbus Day. On October 8th, 2021, President Biden signed a proclamation in honor of Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2021, stating “On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, our Nation celebrates the invaluable contributions and resilience of Indigenous peoples, recognizes their inherent sovereignty, and commits to honoring the Federal Government’s trust and treaty obligations to Tribal Nations.”
As Indigenous Peoples’ Day becomes more widely recognized across the country, many states and towns hold educational and celebratory events where people can learn more about Indigenous people and tribes. Here are a few ways in which you can observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day this year:
- Read a book written by an Indigenous author- The list of published books, articles and other sources written by Indigenous people grows longer every year. “An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States” and it’s companion book “An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States for Young People” are texts that offer a different perspective on the pre- and post-colonial Americas. The books also offer a list of citations and sources at the end if you’re interested in learning more about a specific period or topic in Indigenous history. If you’re interested in reading Indigenous fiction, check out “Black Sun” by Rebecca Roanhorse, “There, There” by Tommy Orange, or select a book from Penguin Random House’s list of “Must-Read Books by Indigenous Authors”.
- Attend an event- The National Museum of the American Indian is holding an online event titled ‘Youth in Action: Indigenous Peoples’ Day-Black-Indigenous Youth Advancing Social Justice’ today, October 11th, at 1 pm, with an on-demand video available for viewing after the event. And in November, the museum will hold a week-long Native Cinema Showcase with feature films, short films and panel discussions. The American Indian College Fund held an Indigenous Peoples’ Day concert on October 10th and the recording is now available for viewing. For an updated list of virtual and in person events, check out the ‘Celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day’ list from Indian Country Today!
- Learn about Indigenous history and culture- There are two branches for the National Museum of the American Indian, one in Washington D.C., while the other is in New York. The D.C. location is open Wednesdays-Sundays from 10 am-5:30 pm. But if you’re unable to visit the physical location, the museum’s website offers virtual exhibits and educational resources. Start with the handout ‘Unlearning Columbus Day Myths’ or explore the Native Knowledge 360 learning module, which helps students and educators examine their approach to learning and understanding Native history. You can also search their collection with their online database. The virtual collection is divided into several different categories to help you refine your search or explore at your own pace and see if you come across a fascinating new piece of information.
Indigenous Peoples’ Day is a great opportunity to reflect on a new perspective to American history. It is also a time to think about Indigenous futures and how Indigenous culture impacts our society. No matter how you decide to celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day, recognize that learning history from a different point of view is one step in which we can create a more equitable and fair environment for all.
