How to Celebrate Indigenous People's Day

Cherokee. Navajo. Choctaw.

If these names are familiar, it’s because they are among the largest Native American tribes in the United States. They are also three of the federally recognized 574 tribes in the nation, 229 of which are in Alaska. Now, 574 might seem like a large number, but that’s only the tribes that are recognized by the government, a process that requires vast historical evidence, money, paperwork, and time to be validated. Before America was colonized by Europeans, there were over 600 tribes and around ten million natives thriving in North America. Today, there are approximately 6.79 million people who identify as Native American – around 2.09% of the entire population of the United States. To put those numbers into perspective, as of 2022, there are about 328.6 million non-indigenous people living in the United States.

There are several reasons for the drastic difference in population, but most can be credited to Christopher Columbus’ arrival in 1492. Among the diseases non-natives brought – diseases the Native Americans did not have immunities for – there was also the genocide of indigenous peoples which also resulted in a mass erasure of many of their unique cultures.

So, why is all of this information relevant? Well, it’s history, of course, but it’s also a history that often gets overlooked, romanticized, or, to put it plainly, whitewashed. As Indigenous People’s Day approaches on October 10th, it’s also important to understand exactly why we celebrate it as an alternative to Columbus Day.

Now, Columbus Day had it’s place, one of which was to celebrate immigrants. Being an immigrant wasn’t a very popular thing to be at the time when Benjamin Harrison was president in the late 1800’s. Some communities had been honoring Christopher Columbus since the late 1700’s, but Harrison thought that by creating a formal observance, it would help spin a narrative in which being an immigrant was part of the American way of life.

While there is value in that sentiment, we can easily recognize today that there are some problems with Columbus’ role in history. As a way to combat some of the problematic themes within Columbus Day, Indigenous People’s Day was created as an alternative celebration in 1992 on the 500th anniversary of Columbus’ arrival to the Americas.

It is up to you to decide which one to observe, but we’d like to share some ways to celebrate Indigenous People’s Day this October 10th in the office.

1.??????Create Awareness

One of the best and most simple ways to celebrate Indigenous People’s Day is by reading up on some credible sources so you can advocate for the observance. Don’t assume that everyone knows the history of the holiday. If someone seems unaware of why anyone would celebrate Indigenous People’s Day, send them some credible sources and be patient with them. It’s ok if someone is ignorant to the history of Indigenous People, as it is not something that is common knowledge. The best reaction is to share your knowledge and resources. One great way to do this is to share a podcast. Here is a list of podcasts that might be a good fit:

• The Red Nation Podcast
• This Land
• Let’s Talk Native
• Coffee With My Ma

2.??????Share a Word Puzzle

One way to get people engaged is to share a word puzzle – like a word search or cross word – that is related to Indigenous People’s Day. This is a fun way to familiarize participants with some key words or even the names of tribes. Of course, you can create your own word puzzles, but if you’d like to get some inspiration or use some puzzles that already exist, check out this link.

3.??????Host a Book Club Meeting

Book clubs are amazing. We highly recommend forming one at your place of work if you haven’t already. We also think that hosting a book club meeting featuring a book relating to Native Americans is a wonderful way to celebrate and create awareness of Indigenous People’s Day. Here are a few book recommendations to get you started:

• Poet Warrior: A Memoir by Joy Harjo
• You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me by Sherman Alexie
• An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States for Young People Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz

4.??????Attend a Virtual Event

We know it might be difficult to get everyone together in-person, especially since you may live in an area where there are not many resources close by to celebrate Indigenous People’s Day. Virtual events not only remedy this, but they give people who are working remotely a chance to participate as well. While you can find a museum that may have something virtual on their website for you and your team to explore, we recommend supporting a Native American run organization like Redhawk Native American Arts Council. Not only do they have events that you can attend in-person, but they also have several online programs that center around different aspects of Native American culture, such as the importance of Native American Dancing and Pow Wows.

5.??????Support a Cause

As always, fundraising can be an amazing way to celebrate and honor Indigenous People’s Day. Whether is it local or on a more national level, supporting a nonprofit centered around Native American communities can be a great way to engage your peers. Here is a short list of some options you may find helpful:

• Native American Rights Fund

Their Mission: The Native American Rights Fund holds governments accountable. We fight to protect Native American rights, resources, and lifeways through litigation, legal advocacy, and legal expertise.

• Native Wellness Institute

Their Mission: The Native Wellness Institute exists to promote the well-being of Native people through programs and trainings that embrace the teachings and traditions of our ancestors.

• Warrior Women Project

Their Vision: Our vision takes its lead from Indigenous matriarchy, one with a holistic relationship with our shared planet and all its ecosystems, and is rooted in the notion that understanding our past will sow seeds for a greater tomorrow. We are combining oral history, contemporary media, and transformative scholarship to bridge the divide between frontline communities, the Ivory Tower of academia, and the mainstream media machine.

• The Cultural Conservancy

Their Mission: To protect and restore Indigenous cultures, empowering them in the direct application of traditional knowledge and practices on their ancestral lands.

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We hope this helps you to understand and celebrate Indigenous People’s Day in a respectful and meaningful way.

Happy Indigenous People’s Day!