What is Indigenous People’s Day?

While many cities are in observance of this holiday, not everyone is fully aware of what Indigenous People’s Day is about.

President Biden officially proclaimed October 11 as Indigenous People’s Day. This national holiday is in honor of the American Indians, Native Hawaiians, and Alaska Natives. The holiday aims to recognize their contributions in all the states. From the colorful and different cultures, they have also fought to protect their lands. Also their language, knowledge, and cultural traditions across all states.

On this Indigenous People’s Day, it isn’t only the recognition of their rich culture. It’s also the resilience of every Indigenous people in standing firm for their sovereignty. While adhering to their obligations, they also never forget their commitment to the treaty obligations of the Tribal Nations.

Honoring Indigenous Peoples’ Day is an effort to tell the truth about our country’s history.

Since the ‘90s, universities, localities, and states have formally replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous People’s or Native Americans’ Day.

— ACLU (@ACLU) October 11, 2021

From this year on, the second week in October will be marked with ceremonies, rallies, marches. It will call for honoring with many events happening at home or abroad. All Indigenous communities were encouraged to participate in other festivities. Such activities include art shows showcasing work done on indigenous issues like climate change among others.

The newly designated holiday was also the federal Columbus Day holiday. Many states and cities will now recognize October 11 as Indigenous People’s Day.

Repost from our brother @tabbep for #indigenouspeoplesday
Our people really said “respect us or expect us” on old Andrew Jackson. How’s the view @POTUS ? Happy Indigenous People’s’ day y’all! ✊🏾 pic.twitter.com/s5DGyiD9fw

— Black Eyed Peas (@bep) October 11, 2021

Some of the states such as Hawaii, Alaska, Oregon, New Mexico, Maine, South Dakota, and Arizona have embraced the designation of the Indigenous People’s Day holiday. Some states are yet to recognize the new holiday. For starters, New York City, the city with the most population, has yet to recognize Indigenous People’s Day. But now that President Biden had declared it official. The whole country will honor it while the Indigenous People make their celebrations.

By President Biden issuing a proclamation to commemorate Indigenous People’s Day, we begin to address one of America’s original sins. This is a big deal.

— Rob Reiner (@robreiner) October 11, 2021

States recognition

China Bullock, the Indigenous People’s Day New York City organizer said “As a descendant of the first international leaders who were the original inhabitants of the New York shores and as a community leader, I have requested that the New York City Council officially recognize Indigenous People’s Day on the second Monday of October from this year and onward.” She has been propping this for the past four years for New York City to fully recognize it.

Although some of the Indigenous people’s bloody history revolves in fighting colonialism, their history continues and should be a celebration of a fresh and positive outlook.

While this Indigenous People’s Day is a nation’s call for reckoning how the Indigenous people fight for respect and recognition, there’s still a need to acknowledge their ongoing issues. To name some of the issues – land acknowledgement, land reclamation, Native nations rebuilding, and the unresolved murdered and missing indigenous peoples.