How to Celebrate Indigenous People’s Day At The Office

Everyone deserves their day in the sun, especially those who have been living in the shadows for far too long.?

Indigenous people have long been overlooked in the United States. Their harrowing history means that those native to this land are still struggling to get back on equal footing with the rest of America.?

We cannot right every wrong on Indigenous People’s Day this 14th of October, but we as leaders can shine the light on Indigenous people to generate awareness, compassion, and support.?

When brainstorming ways to celebrate Native Americans this October, realize the power your company has to empower Native American employees and community members. Make an impact on every company employee by celebrating Indigenous People’s Day in one of the following ways.?

History and Origin of Indigenous People’s Day

Indigenous people have lived in the land we now call The Americas for over 15,000 years. However, only recently were they given their own day to celebrate their rich and long history and contributions to the US.?

Indigenous People’s Day became a federal holiday in 2021 and takes place on the second Monday of every October. When pushing to make Indigenous People’s Day a holiday, President Biden said the purpose of the holiday is to “honor the sovereignty, resilience, and immense contributions that Native Americans have made to the world. ” He went on to say that more needs to be done to give Tribal communities the same access to resources that other Americans have.?

You’ll note that Indigenous People’s Day and Columbus Day share the same date. More and more people and states are choosing to celebrate Native Peoples as opposed to Christopher Columbus, as the latter’s historical impact is now being viewed through the lens of his victims.?

A federal bill is currently being considered by the Committee on the Judiciary designed to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous People’s Day. Many such bills have already been passed in states such as Vermont, California, Maine, Hawaii, Alaska, South Dakota, and a handful of others.?

Despite being a federal holiday, it’s not widely celebrated, with only about half the states giving employees the day off.?

How to Celebrate Indigenous People’s Day at Work

There are many meaningful ways to celebrate Indigenous People’s Day at the office. Here are a few ways we recommend celebrating that do more than pay lip service to this national holiday.?

Volunteer In An Indigenous Community?

Volunteering is a great way to give back to the Indigenous community. Rallying your employees in support of a cause not only puts the Native American community in the limelight but also gives employees a chance to bond with one another outside of the office.?

While Indigenous People’s Day is just a day long, forming this bond between your company and the local community may lead to a long and mutually beneficial relationship. Both parties have something to offer the other.?

Here are some ways you can volunteer.

Lunch & Learn With Indigenous Community Members

There may be some pushback when you promote Indigenous People’s Day. Some employees see it as an attempt to replace Columbus Day or might be opposed for other reasons. A YouGov poll of more than 6,000 Americans found that only 21% of respondents were in favor of replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous People’s Day.?

Instead of choosing activities that force employees to join in the celebration, why not entice them with good food and an extended lunch break?

A Lunch & Learn is a seamless and effective way to engage reluctant employees. Most employees would sign up for a company-provided lunch even if it came with the caveat of listening to a respected community speaker.?

Select a speaker who is respected within the Indigenous community and who will engage even employees who are not sold on the idea of celebrating Indigenous People’s Day.?

DEIB Training To Foster Inclusion At Work

DEIB workshops are designed to help employees see the invisible injustices around them. It’s easy to not see the biases and inequalities when you’re not on the receiving end of unfair treatment. To become more aware of your surroundings, a trained DEIB leader will educate and lead participants through hands-on exercises to awaken the senses.?

But don’t think that a DEIB training centering around Native American employees solely speaks to non-Native Americans. An uplifting byproduct of DEIB efforts is that those who feel most overlooked will now feel more supported by their company. Making the effort will not go unnoticed by Indigenous employees. Even if employees are slow to understand the reality faced by Indigenous co-workers, Native Americans will still feel appreciated and have more positive feelings toward the company and upper management.?

Help Create An Indigenous People’s ERG

How can you ensure that Indigenous employees continue to receive support and representation even after the holiday ends?

One way to do so is by creating an employee resource group . An ERG is typically an employee-led group that serves employees who all have something in common. There are ERGs for mothers, neurodivergent employees, LGBTQ+ employees, and of course, Indigenous employees. Generally, ERGs are created to support employees who are, historically speaking, underserved and overlooked.?

ERGs can provide employees with tailored resources, mentorship, a community, and lobbying power within the company.?

There are many ways to celebrate the newest of federal holidays. How you celebrate depends on your goals and company culture. To create a more detailed plan to recognize, support, and appreciate employees from diverse backgrounds, book a call so we can create a strategy that works for you and your company.??