Indigenous Peoples‘ Day was begun in 1989 in South Dakota to celebrate Native American day on the second Monday of October, marking the beginning of the year of reconciliation. Also called First People‘s Day, National Indigenous Peoples Day, Indian Day (Brazil), or Native American Day. It was a grass roots movement that has blossomed into a day to honor Native Indigenous Americans in the Western hemisphere on Columbus Day by various countries, states and municipalities in the Americas. Austin officially adopted observing this day in 2017 and KOOP has added Indigenous Peoples‘ Day to its monthly Celebration Events.
It is a holiday in Maine, New Mexico and South Dakota and is known as Native American’s Day in South Dakota. Alaska, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, South Dakota, Vermont and Wisconsin observe this day, but it is not a paid holiday. Many cities and towns in various states will observe this day as Indigenous People‘s Day.
Other nations impacted by exploration and colonization have since adopted holidays to recognize the contributions of indigenous peoples as well as preserve their history. The United Nations declared an International Day of the World’s Indigenous People.
Graphic by The Nonprofit Quarterly