Today – October 10 – is Indigenous Peoples’ Day. It’s a time to appreciate and pay respect to the unique heritage of the people native to the Americas. The day was first officially celebrated across the United States in 2021, though it is not yet a federal holiday.
According to the United Nations, there are more than 476 million indigenous peoples living in 90 countries across the world. Indigenous people comprise 6.2% of the world’s population.
Interested in Celebrating?
You can celebrate this special day by several different ways:
- Attend an Indigenous Peoples’ Day event.
- Visit a museum or exhibit with a focus on indigenous cultures. If you don’t have a museum near you, visit the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian.
- Support indigenous artists and communities.
- Help rebuild local ecosystems with native plants.
- Research the history of the land you’re on.
By celebrating this day you can broaden your view of where you live, and your understanding of others.