General Knowledge

Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2023: Date, History, Facts about Indigenous

1977 marked the sowing of the inaugural Indigenous Peoples' Day seed during a United Nations international conference on discrimination. South Dakota was the first state to officially observe the day in 1989.

Indigenous Peoples’ Day is observed to commemorate the cultures and histories of the Native American people on the second Monday of October, which falls on October 9 this year. The focal point of the day is the remembrance of their tribal heritage and the sorrowful narratives that not only harmed but also fortified their communities.

The background of Indigenous Peoples’ Day

1977 marked the sowing of the inaugural Indigenous Peoples’ Day seed during a United Nations international conference on discrimination. South Dakota was the first state to officially observe the day in 1989. Similarly, Santa Cruz and Berkeley, California, followed suit.

While the date remained Columbus Day until 1937, it soon came to be referred to by numerous individuals as Indigenous Peoples’ Day, an ode to the Native American people’s rich culture and way of life.

Columbus Day has historically caused pain among Native Americans due to its glorifying of the violent history that encompassed five centuries of oppression and torment at the hands of European explorers, including Columbus, and those who settled in America. Indigenous Peoples’ Day highlights the anguish, trauma, and unfulfilled commitments that were eradicated with the commemoration of Christopher Columbus Day. Indigenous peoples were prosperous, self-sufficient communities that had endured for millennia prior to his arrival.

The movement to rename Columbus Day Indigenous Peoples’ Day gains traction annually in an increasing number of U.S. states, municipalities, and cities.

Indigenous Peoples’ Day honors, commemorates, and celebrates the exquisite customs and cultures of the Indigenous People, not only in the United States but globally as well. Their culture and way of life impart valuable insights and knowledge regarding how to live more sustainably.

Today, 14 U.S. states and the District of Columbia observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day instead of Columbus Day. Indigenous Peoples’ Day is observed in over 130 communities, including Salem, Amherst, Cambridge, Brookline, Marblehead, Great Barrington, Northampton, Provincetown, and Somerville. Numerous organizations that aim to rectify the limited access that indigenous peoples have to higher education have established scholarships in this regard.

World Octopus Day 2023: Date, History, Facts about Octogenuses

World Dyslexia Day 2023: Date, History, Facts about Dyslexia

5 Indigenous Peoples’ Day Facts

Native American women participated in conflicts alongside males, with the Buffalo Calf Road Woman of the Northern Cheyenne tribe being the most renowned.

Thousands of years ago, the Native Americans were the pioneers in domesticating the maize varietals that enabled the production of popcorn.

Maria Tallchief was the initial Native American (and American) to perform a dance routine at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow in the company of the Paris Opera Ballet.

Shinny, a game originated among the Native American communities of Foxes, Saux, and Assiniboine, served as the progenitor of hockey.

The sequoia tree derives its name from Sequoyah, a highly regarded Cherokee chief credited with devising the alphabet for his people.

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ DAY DATES

Year Date Day
2022 October 10 Monday
2023 October 9 Monday
2024 October 14 Monday
2025 October 13 Monday
2026 October 12 Monday
Arshiya Khan

Arshiya Khan is a Commerce graduate who loves to write on general and trending topics.

Recent Posts

TCA Florida August 2025 Payment: When Will Families Receive Their Cash Aid?

Thousands of low-income families in Florida are waiting for August’s Temporary Cash Assistance, expected within…

18 hours ago

SNAP Florida Payment Schedule: What Day Are Your Food Stamps Deposited in August 2025?

Florida SNAP benefits for August 2025 will be paid between the 1st and 28th, based…

18 hours ago

VA Disability Payment Schedule 2025: When Will Veterans Be Paid in August?

Veterans receiving VA disability benefits in August 2025 will get paid on August end. The…

2 days ago

What Is the Average Social Security Payment for Retirees in August 2025? Here’s the Amount

Social Security payments for retired workers have seen a rise in 2025, with new figures…

2 days ago

CalWORKs August 2025 Payments: When Will You Receive Your Food Stamps?

California families receiving CalWORKs benefits can expect food stamp payments on their EBT cards between…

2 days ago

VA Chapter 35 August 2025 Payment: When Will It Be Deposited?

VA Chapter 35 beneficiaries will receive two payments in August 2025, one on August 1…

2 days ago