This is the second year that a United States president has officially recognized Indigenous Peoples’ Day, even though people have been fighting for this day since 1992. NPR explains that Indigecnous Peoples’ Day helps to correct the “whitewashing” and inaccuracies portrayed through the Christopher Colubus narrative. This day is different from Native American Heritage month – which occurs in November, you can read more about this awareness month on our blog here. Indigenous Peoples’ Day aims to actively correct and change the narrative of a day in history which has been explained to students across America the wondrous day that Columbus discovered America – leaving out the horrible things that occurred to the indigenous people Columbus and his team encountered. National Today notes that the first time this day was recognized on the state level was in 1989, it was not until 2021 – 32 years later – that this day was officially recognized by our President. After all of these years, 14 states finally recognized Indigenous Peoples’ Day instead of Columbus day.

This article from Do Something provides some more information about Indigenous Peoples’ Day and how you can help this movement along. The article “Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2022” by the Old Farmer’s Almanac notes that you can celebrate this day by learning more about the land you live on, visit a museum on Indigenous People (such as the Pequot Museum in  Mashantucket, CT), or learn more about indigenous plants and animals. This article by Educators 4 Social Change provides resources, lesson plans, and activities on how to teach about Indigenous Peoples’ Days.   

We will have more resources to share about Native American Heritage Month, celebrated in November, on our blog and in next month’s newsletter.