Indigenous Peoples' Day

Indigenous Peoples’ Day is observed in the United States on the second Monday of October, which falls on October 12 in 2026. The holiday honors the histories, cultures, sovereignty, and continuing contributions of Indigenous peoples, including American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities. It emerged partly as a response to the traditional federal observance of Columbus Day, challenging celebratory narratives about Christopher Columbus and European colonization that often overlooked the violence, displacement, enslavement, and cultural disruption experienced by Indigenous nations.

The movement gained wider recognition in the late twentieth century, building on Indigenous activism and on earlier observances such as Indigenous Peoples Day in Berkeley, California, beginning in 1992. South Dakota was the first state to replace Columbus Day with a related holiday, Native American Day, in 1990. Since then, numerous states, cities, counties, tribal nations, schools, and institutions have adopted Indigenous Peoples’ Day or similar names, although recognition remains varied across the country and Columbus Day continues as a federal holiday. In 2026, the observance provides an opportunity to learn about the sovereignty and diversity of more than 570 federally recognized tribes, as well as the distinct histories of Indigenous communities throughout the United States.

Indigenous Peoples’ Day is commonly marked by educational programs, public lectures, museum exhibitions, documentary screenings, cultural demonstrations, and discussions led by Indigenous scholars, artists, elders, and community organizations. Events may highlight tribal languages, traditional ecological knowledge, arts, storytelling, music, dance, and contemporary Indigenous achievements. Many communities also use the day to support Indigenous-owned businesses, visit Native cultural centers, acknowledge the land and its original peoples, and learn whose traditional territory they occupy; respectful recognition should avoid treating all Indigenous nations as culturally identical.

Celebrations vary widely because Indigenous nations have distinct customs and ceremonial practices. Public gatherings may include powwows, intertribal dances, drumming, singing, craft markets, and foods such as fry bread, wild rice, corn, beans, squash, salmon, game, and other regional ingredients, although these are not universal Indigenous traditions. Some observances emphasize civic action, voter engagement, environmental stewardship, language revitalization, or solidarity with tribal sovereignty rather than festive activities. There is no single nationwide greeting, but respectful expressions include “Happy Indigenous Peoples’ Day,” “Wishing you a meaningful Indigenous Peoples’ Day,” or acknowledgments that honor Indigenous peoples and communities without appropriating sacred ceremonies or symbols.