Indigenous Peoples’ Day highlights Native history and culture across the country. The day recognizes the contributions and traditions of the first peoples and their place in modern America. Each year, more states and cities adopt the observance, shifting the focus from celebrating Columbus to honoring Indigenous communities.
From small towns to major cities, communities mark the day with powwows, art shows, music and food festivals that showcase creativity and resilience. People learn through public talks and cultural programs, which remind them that Native heritage is alive and central to American life today.
Honoring Native communities nationwide
Indigenous Peoples’ Day offers a national moment to recognize Native communities across the United States, including American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians. The observance highlights their contributions to the country’s history and culture, from traditions passed through generations to their role in shaping modern America.
This day also acknowledges the centuries of mistreatment and the ongoing challenges Native peoples face. In doing so, it affirms the importance of Native rights and sovereignty while honoring the resilience and diversity of Indigenous nations.
States and cities observing the holiday
Calls to recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day as a national holiday began in 1977 during a United Nations conference on discrimination against Indigenous populations in the Americas. The proposal urged replacing Columbus Day with a recognition of the first peoples of the continent.
The effort gradually gained ground across the United States, with South Dakota becoming the first state to adopt the holiday in 1990. Hawai’i later introduced Discoverers’ Day to honor the Polynesian navigators who first settled the islands, and Berkeley, California, renamed the holiday in 1992.
Momentum grew in the years that followed. A 2015 demonstration in New York City drew thousands of Native people and their supporters, attracting national attention and amplifying the call for change. Today, more than 200 cities have officially replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day, marking a significant shift in how Americans recognize the history and survival of Native communities.
Celebrating Native heritage and culture
Indigenous Peoples’ Day highlights living traditions and cultural expression in communities nationwide. People gather at powwows to share dance and storytelling that carry knowledge across generations.
The public encounters Native creativity at traditional music performances and art exhibits that feature both contemporary and historical works. Food festivals showcase Native cuisine built on regional ingredients and long-standing practices. Together, these events emphasize that Native heritage is active and evolving, not only remembered.
Educational programs and resources
Schools incorporate Native perspectives into classrooms with lessons that explore history from Indigenous viewpoints, connecting past events to the present. Museums build on that work with exhibits that feature artifacts, stories and contemporary voices, giving visitors a broader understanding of Native life.
Beyond schools and museums, teachers can access online resources from Native-led organizations to learn directly from Indigenous communities. In seminars and workshops, participants engage with Native leaders and scholars in discussions on history, sovereignty and culture.
How communities honor the day
Communities honor Indigenous Peoples’ Day with parades and cultural festivals that bring Native communities and the public together. Tribal leaders and elected officials add a formal voice through speeches, emphasizing the importance of recognition and visibility.
Many Native groups also organize community service projects, using the day to support local needs and strengthen connections. Ceremonial gatherings and traditional blessings provide moments of reflection, adding spiritual meaning and cultural continuity to the observance.
Recognition across the nation
Indigenous Peoples’ Day serves as a national reminder of the resilience and contributions of Native communities. States, cities and towns mark the day with cultural events, educational programs and public gatherings that amplify Native voices. The observance shows that Indigenous traditions remain alive and central to American life, not just chapters of the past. As the day approaches, it encourages reflection and respect for a heritage that continues to shape the nation.
Mandy writes about food, home and the kind of everyday life that feels anything but ordinary. She has traveled extensively, and those experiences have shaped everything, from comforting meals to small lifestyle upgrades that make a big difference. You’ll find all her favorite recipes over at Hungry Cooks Kitchen.
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