Photo Credit: Xavier Johnson | The Advocate
Today we celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day. Last year President Biden described the intention of the day to “honor the perseverance and courage of Indigenous peoples, show our gratitude for the myriad contributions they have made to our world, and renew our commitment to respect Tribal sovereignty and self-determination.” As more communities celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day in addition to, or instead of, Columbus Day, we counter the harmful narrative of Columbus' “discovery” of the Americas.
Indigenous Peoples' Day was first proposed by Indigenous peoples at a 1977 United Nations conference held to address discrimination against Natives. South Dakota became the first state to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples day in 1989, and Berkeley, CA was the first city to adopt the holiday. This photo shows a dancer competing during the Berkeley Indigenous Peoples Day Pow Wow in 2019.
We invite you to commemorate Indigenous Peoples’ Day with us by learning more about the holiday and committing to support organizations advancing Indigenous sovereignty. You can find a list of resources below:
Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Explained | New York Times
Governor Newsom proclaims Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2024 | Governor Gavin Newsom
In Berkeley, Indigenous Peoples’ Day Is a Decades-Old Tradition | New York Times
Rethinking How We Celebrate American History—Indigenous Peoples’ Day | Smithsonian Magazine
Highlighting Indigenous voices across NPR’s network | NPR
Shuumi Land Tax | The Sogorea Te Land Trust