What is Indigenous Peoples Day? 3 things to know
Indigenous Peoples Day honors Native peoples’ history, cultures and continuing communities. It has been observed in different forms for decades, and Joe Biden formally recognized it in 2021.
The observance usually falls on the second Monday in October, the same date as Columbus Day. That federal holiday commemorates Christopher Columbus’s 1492 sighting of the Americas.
Celebrations can include ceremonies, dances and speeches. Events may also call attention to environmental justice, Indigenous land rights, Columbus monuments and missing and murdered Indigenous women.
The day is not a federal holiday. Some states, Washington, D.C., cities and school systems recognize it, either alongside Columbus Day or in its place.
President Donald Trump has said he will not follow Biden’s practice of recognizing Indigenous Peoples Day in October. The article does not specify what recognition, if any, will take its place.
Key points
- Biden officially recognized Indigenous Peoples Day in 2021; Trump says he will not continue that practice.
- The day generally coincides with Columbus Day on the second Monday in October.
- Some states, cities and schools observe the day, though it is not a federal holiday.