Indigenous Peoples' Day

What is Indigenous Peoples’ Day?

Indigenous Peoples’ Day honors the past, present, and future of Native peoples throughout the United States. The holiday recognizes the legacy and impact of colonialism on Native communities, and it also celebrates the cultures, contributions, and resilience of contemporary Native peoples. The idea was born as a counter-celebration to Columbus Day in 1977, at a United Nations sponsored conference in Geneva, Switzerland on discrimination against indigenous populations in the Americas. It was first celebrated in Berkeley, California in 1992, coinciding with the 500th anniversary of Columbus’ arrival, and was formally recognized as a holiday in 2021.

Why is the Holiday Important?

Currently, there are over 600 Native Nations in the US, and 6.8 million Americans identify as Native American (about 2% of the country’s total population). Yet representation for Native peoples (especially contemporary Native peoples) is seriously lacking, and Native communities still experience a legacy of discrimination as a result.

Indigenous Peoples’ Day pushes back on this invisibility. It allows Native people and their perspectives to be centered and celebrated. It’s a time to honor the achievements of folks like Joy Harjo, the first Native American poet laureate of the US, or the Indigenous youth activists who are saving sacred lands and fighting for climate justice. The holiday also gives non-Native people the chance to gain a better understanding of Native communities -- namely, that they are still here, they are relevant today, and their identities are valid.

Resources

To learn more about Indigenous Peoples Day, visit the National Museum of the American Indian or the official proclamation.