Indigenous Peoples' Day
From the Office of Educational Equity
Monday, October 10 Indigenous Peoples' Day
Indigenous Peoples Day in the U.S. is a time to honor and celebrate Native American peoples. Therefore, many people use the day as an opportunity to lift up and celebrate Native American culture, history, and teachings. At the same time, this can be a somber day to learn about and reflect on the atrocities that colonialists have perpetrated against Indigenous communities throughout history. Many of these inequities continue today.
Across the United States, many local governments, schools, and businesses are choosing to observe Indigenous Peoples Day instead of Columbus Day. In fact, 17 states, the District of Columbia, and more than 130 cities celebrate the holiday. While Indigenous Peoples Day is not yet a national holiday, there is a growing movement to declare it a federal holiday in the United States.
On October 8th, 2021, President Joe Biden became the first commander-in-chief to formally recognize Indigenous People’s Day by issuing a proclamation celebrating the upcoming holiday.
The proclamation says:
“On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, our Nation celebrates the invaluable contributions and resilience of Indigenous peoples, recognizes their inherent sovereignty, and commits to honoring the Federal Government’s trust and treaty obligations to Tribal Nations.”
The proclamation ends on a powerful note:
“On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we honor America’s first inhabitants and the Tribal Nations that continue to thrive today.”
Ways to Celebrate
- Acknowledge the land you’re on
- Create artwork
- Read and display books for students to learn more about
- Visit a museum that shares Indigenous history and culture
- Share in the art of storytelling
Land Acknowledgement
A quick way to find the land you are on:
Text your zip code or your city and state (separated by a comma) to (907) 312-5085 and the bot will respond with the names of the Native lands that correspond to that region.
Largest Tribes in Michigan
Michigan's Federally Recognized Tribes
Bay Mills Chippewa Indian Community
- Grand Traverse Bay Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians
- Hannahville Indian Community Band of Potawatomi
- Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, Lake Superior Band of Chippewa Indians
- Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians
- Little River Band of Ottawa Indians
- Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians
- Match-e-be-nash-she-wish Band of Potawatomi Indians of Michigan
- Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi
- Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians
- Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe
- Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians