Indigenous Peoples' Day

A traditionally constructed native drum is seen in the hands of a indigenous person celebrating traditional music.

This year, Monday, October 9 marks Indigenous Peoples’ Day, which recognizes and celebrates the Indigenous communities that have lived for thousands of years in the Americas. The holiday is celebrated the second Monday in October and is celebrated by many U.S. states.

Last year, President Joe Biden became the first U.S. president to formally commemorate Indigenous Peoples’ Day with presidential proclamation. President Biden in his proclamation said:

“On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we honor the sovereignty, resilience, and immense contributions that Native Americans have made to the world; and we recommit to upholding our solemn trust and treaty responsibilities to Tribal Nations, strengthening our Nation-to-Nation ties.”

In addition to honoring Indigenous people and their histories and cultures, the holiday aims to call attention to ways that Indigenous people are currently discriminated against and affected by health issues, gender violence, and climate change. Indigenous lands also are heavily impacted by public and private drilling/mining projects. 

While the exact origins of Indigenous Peoples’ Day is uncertain, the city of Berkeley, California was one of the first adopters in 1992. This coincided with the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the Americas in 1492. By 2014, more cities and states were recognizing the holiday.

In recent years, more states and cities have chosen to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day rather than Columbus Day – in response to indigenous groups and activists saying that Columbus brought genocide and colonization to people who had been in the Americas for thousands of years. 

In observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, all TwinStar branches and the Contact Center will be closed on Monday, October 9. We will resume our normal business hours Tuesday, October 10. 

Please join us in recognizing Indigenous Peoples’ Day as we honor and celebrate their histories, culture, and impact on American society.