Good morning ESD Community,
Monday, October 10 marks a day of recognition of Indigenous peoples’ resilience and rich cultural heritage in the face of centuries of oppression, assimilation and genocide.
Today is an important day in our observances calendar. Today we are honoring the history and people who have historically inhabited the lands of our region. It’s not only important to remember the contributions that Native Americans have made to the United States on Indigenous Peoples Day but also every day thereafter.
Recognized on the second Monday in October – the same day as the federally recognized Columbus Day holiday – 2021 marked the first time a U.S. president officially proclaimed an Indigenous Peoples’ Day observance.
It wasn’t until 1989 that the first U.S. state, South Dakota, replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples day, officially celebrating it the following year.
Where is Indigenous Peoples’ Day recognized?
Not every state or city broadly recognizes this day in honor of Indigenous Peoples. More than a dozen states and well over 100 cities celebrate the day, with many of them having altogether dropped the holiday honoring Columbus to replace it with Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
Since Washington state doesn’t recognize Columbus Day, Indigenous Peoples’ Day doesn’t replace it, nor is Indigenous Peoples’ Day an official city holiday — just a day to honor Indigenous people.
- The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian cares for one of the world’s most expansive collections of Native artifacts, including objects, photographs, archives, and media covering the entire Western Hemisphere, from the Arctic Circle to Tierra del Fuego.
- Find out whose land you’re on: Native-Land.ca.
- See the severity and scale of Native American Land Losses.
- Advocate for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women: National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center (NIWRC)
- Learn about and support the Coast Salish community whose land we share.
