Celebrating Indigenous Peoples' Day
YWCA Boulder County will be closed Monday, October 14, 2024.
“When we celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day in place of Columbus Day, it shows a victory for Indigenous people.” – Nick Tilsen (president and CEO of the NDN Collective, an Indigenous-led advocacy group.)
What is the meaning of Indigenous people?
Indigenous people are unique social and cultural groups that share ancestral ties to the lands and natural resources they originate from or from which they were forced to leave.
Why is it call Indigenous Peoples’ Day?
Indigenous Peoples’ Day has been celebrated in various forms for many years since the 1990s, aiming to honor Native American history and culture while acknowledging the ongoing challenges they face. However, the conversation goes back to 1977 at the United Nations conference to counteract anti-indigenous discrimination.
In 2021, President Joe Biden issued the first official proclamation of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, stating that the day serves to “honor America’s first inhabitants and the Tribal Nations that continue to thrive today.” It is held on the second Monday in October, the same day as Columbus day.
One major criticism of Columbus is that he represented colonialism, a period marked a hierarchal form of oppression. While Columbus Day honors him, Indigenous Peoples Day serves as a counterpoint to Christopher Columbus’ colonial ideals and works.
Read more: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/why-more-people-are-celebrating-indigenous-peoples-day
Why is this significant?
Recognizing the resilience and contributions Indigenous people have made to society is vital, particularly in areas such as agriculture, medicine, and invention. This holiday not only celebrates Native American cultures and histories but also confronts the harsh realities of colonialism, genocide, and oppression indigenous people have battled. For generations, they have faced inequities, including the loss of land, ownership, and their way of living. Indigenous Peoples Day offers a chance for reflection, celebration, and education about these experiences.
WATCH: Indigenous peoples echo Black Lives Matter’s call for justice
How do people celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day?
Many people recognize the painful history endured by Indigenous peoples and celebrate their culture, but it is also viewed as a day of protest and resistance.
The day often includes demonstrations against Columbus memorials, calls for environmental justice, demands for the return of Indigenous lands, and tributes to missing and murdered Indigenous women.
People also celebrate with Native food, performances, art, music, and traditional ceremonies. Activists say the attempt to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day has faced opposition from those who see Columbus as a symbol of Italian-American history.
Learn more: What is Indigenous Peoples' Day? How to Celebrate with Kids ...
How does this relate to YWCA Boulder County?
The celebration of Indigenous Peoples Day aligns closely with our mission here at the YWCA.
Replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples' Day challenges colonial oppression that has long impacted Indigenous communities, reflecting the broader recognition of marginalized groups. Indigenous Peoples' Day highlights the challenges Indigenous women face, including violence and the fight for justice for those who went missing or have been murdered, while honoring their strength and advocating for their rights. Indigenous Peoples' Day calls for peace, justice, and dignity by addressing the painful legacy of colonization and fostering reconciliation.
Ways to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day
You can take action by attending local events, and learning more about Native American history and culture. Here are a few upcoming events:
Saturday, Oct. 12 from 10:30am to 1:30 p.m.- Indigenous Peoples Day 2024/ Día de los Pueblos Indígenas 2024
At this event, participants will learn about Solidarity Economy and Climate Justice, through art, poetry, music, and collective learning, connecting with ancestral practices focused on social and climate justice. Breakfast and supplies are included.
Learn more: Indigenous Peoples Day: Solidarity Economy, Degrowth and Climate Justice
Sunday, Oct. 13 from 12:00 to 4:45 p.m.- Mi Chantli
This will feature workshops, dance battles, guided sessions, open training sessions, weekly poetry sessions, and Danza.
Sunday, Oct. 13 from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. -Right Relationship Boulder
This event will include presentations along with Native music, dance, and a Native American food truck to celebrate Indigenous people and their history. Right Relationship Boulder will collaborate with the Northern Arapahoe Tribe, the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma, Creative Nations, and the Rocky Mountain Indigenous Dancers
Learn more: Indigenous Peoples Day 2024
Sunday, Oct. 13 from 3:00 to 6:00 pm- Movie Screening
This will include food, entertainment, live music, a movie screening and a guest speaker.
Learn more: Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration and Movie Screening
Monday, Oct. 14 from 11am to 1:00 p.m.- Plenary Session and Luncheon (CU Boulder)
Speakers Makalika Destarte Naholowa’a and Autumn BlackDeer will present "Indigenous Peoples Day Reframed: Toward an Intersectional, Decolonial, and Transnational Vision for Indigenous Sovereignty," offering critical insights into decolonization, intersectionality, and global Indigenous rights. Lunch will be provided as long as you register
Monday, Oct. 14 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. – Roots Music Project
Roots Music Project will present a night of musical performances to celebrate the diversity and cultural heritage of Indigenous artists with featured Indigenous Artist Cary Morin and Paloma.
Learn more: Indigenous Peoples Day presented by Roots Music Project
Wednesday, Oct. 16 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. - Land Back, Language Back: Workshops and Panel Discussions (CU Boulder)
This workshop will take place in the UMC building on campus. This will feature land back panelists and language back panelists that focus on reclaiming Indigenous land and revitalizing Indigenous languages.