If you’re looking at your calendar trying to figure out when is Indigenous Peoples' Day, you’re probably noticing a bit of a tug-of-war. For decades, the second Monday in October was strictly reserved for Columbus Day. But things have changed. Fast.
In the United States, Indigenous Peoples' Day is celebrated on the second Monday of October. In 2024, that lands on October 14. In 2025, it hits on October 13. By 2026, you'll be marking it on October 12.
It's a federal holiday, but it’s also not. That’s where it gets confusing. While President Biden issued the first-ever presidential proclamation for the holiday in 2021, it isn't a "new" federal holiday in the way Juneteenth is. Instead, it’s a shift in focus. It's an alternative to, or a replacement for, Columbus Day. Honestly, the "when" is easy to answer, but the "why" and the "how" are where the real story lives.
The Calendar Logic and the Federal Sticky Note
Most people think holidays are set in stone. They aren't.
Since the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968, the U.S. government has loved moving celebrations to Mondays to give federal employees those sweet three-day weekends. That’s why the date for Indigenous Peoples' Day bounces around every October. It follows the lead of Columbus Day, which was established as a federal holiday back in 1937.
But here is the catch: not every state plays by the same rules.
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You’ve got places like South Dakota, which was way ahead of the curve. They’ve been celebrating Native American Day since 1990. Then you have Berkeley, California. They ditched Columbus Day for Indigenous Peoples' Day in 1992 to mark the 500th anniversary of Columbus’s arrival. They didn't want to celebrate a conquest; they wanted to honor survival.
It’s a patchwork. If you live in Vermont, Maine, or New Mexico, the state recognizes it. If you’re in a state that doesn’t, your bank might be closed because of the federal status, but your local trash pickup might still happen. It’s a weird, bureaucratic limbo.
Why the Date Matters Beyond the Day Off
For a long time, the narrative was one-sided. We were taught about ships and "discovery." But you can't discover a place where millions of people already have complex legal systems, agriculture, and sprawling cities.
Choosing the second Monday in October isn't accidental. It’s a direct reclamation. By placing Indigenous Peoples' Day on the same day as Columbus Day, advocates aren't just asking for a holiday; they are demanding a rewrite of the American origin story.
Indigenous activists like Suzan Shown Harjo (Cheyenne and Hodulgee Muscogee) have spent decades arguing that the celebration of Columbus is essentially the celebration of the beginning of a genocide. When you look at the historical record—the actual logs from the voyages—it's pretty grim. We're talking about the enslavement of the Taino people and the introduction of diseases that wiped out entire civilizations.
So, when is Indigenous Peoples' Day? It’s whenever we decide to stop ignoring the 10,000-plus years of history that happened before 1492.
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Not Just a US Thing
While we focus on the October date in the States, Indigenous celebrations happen all over the globe at different times.
- Canada: They celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21. Why? Because it’s the summer solstice. It’s the longest day of the year and holds deep spiritual significance for many First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples.
- International: The United Nations recognizes August 9 as the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. This marks the first meeting of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations in 1982.
It’s kinda fascinating how different cultures chose their timing. The U.S. chose October as a counter-protest. Canada chose June as a celebration of the earth’s cycles. Both are valid. Both are necessary.
The Local Flavor of Recognition
You might be surprised to find that even if your state doesn't officially recognize the day, your city might. Over 130 cities across the U.S. have adopted the holiday.
Take Phoenix, Arizona. They have one of the largest urban Indigenous populations in the country. For them, the day isn't just a day off; it’s a massive cultural festival. You’ve got bird singing, gourd dancing, and markets that actually put money into the pockets of Native artists.
Then there's the nuance. Some people don't like the term "Indigenous." They prefer "Native American" or "First Nations" or, more accurately, their specific tribal affiliation like Diné, Cherokee, or Anishinaabe.
Using a broad term is a bit like saying "European" instead of "French" or "Italian." It gets the job done for a calendar, but it misses the texture of the actual people. There are 574 federally recognized tribes in the U.S. alone. That’s 574 different languages, histories, and traditions. One Monday in October is a start, but it’s definitely not the whole picture.
Misconceptions That Still Hang Around
People get defensive about the October date. You’ll hear things like, "Why are we erasing history?"
Actually, it’s the opposite. It’s adding history.
Celebrating Indigenous Peoples' Day doesn't delete Christopher Columbus from the history books. He's still there. He still did what he did. But we're finally acknowledging that there were people standing on the shore watching those ships arrive. Their perspective is finally being invited to the table.
Another big myth? That it’s a "woke" invention from the last five years.
Nope.
The idea was first proposed in 1977 at a United Nations-sponsored conference in Geneva. Indigenous leaders from around the world gathered to talk about discrimination. They were the ones who suggested that the "discovery" of the Americas should be reframed. It took nearly 50 years for that seed to sprout into a mainstream American holiday. Change is slow. Like, glacier slow.
How to Actually Spend the Day
If you’ve got the day off, or even if you don’t, there are better ways to mark it than just posting a graphic on Instagram.
Basically, it comes down to education and support.
- Check the Land: Use tools like Native-Land.ca to see whose ancestral territory you’re currently living on. It’s usually a surprise.
- Buy Native: If you're buying jewelry, sage, or art, make sure it’s authentic. The Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 makes it illegal to sell art as "Native-produced" if it isn't. Support actual tribal members, not big-box retailers ripping off patterns.
- Read the Real Stuff: Pick up a book by an Indigenous author. The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee by David Treuer is a masterpiece. It breaks the "sad Indian" trope and shows how Native cultures are thriving and modern.
- Donate to Language Revitalization: Many Indigenous languages are at risk of disappearing. Organizations like the American Indian College Fund or local tribal language programs are doing the heavy lifting to keep those sounds alive.
The reality of when is Indigenous Peoples' Day is that the date is just a marker. It’s a prompt. It’s a yearly nudge to remember that the history of this land didn't start with a map and a flag. It started with people who are still here, still creating, and still fighting for recognition.
Next time October rolls around, don't just look for the bank closure. Look for the stories that were silenced for a few hundred years. They're much more interesting anyway.
Practical Steps for Recognition
If you want to move beyond just knowing the date and actually integrate this recognition into your life or workplace, here is the move.
First, advocate for your workplace to recognize the day. Many HR departments are looking for ways to update their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) calendars but don't know where to start. Providing them with the federal proclamation and examples of other companies doing it can be a catalyst.
Second, engage with local tribal governments. If you are a business owner or a community leader, reaching out to the nearest tribal council isn't just polite; it's good practice. Many tribes have economic development arms that are looking for partners.
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Finally, stop using "Indigenous" as a past-tense word. Native people aren't historical artifacts. They are doctors, lawyers, coders, and neighbors. The best way to honor the day is to acknowledge their presence in the present.
Check your local community calendar for October. Most universities or cultural centers host lectures and events that are open to the public. Go to one. Listen more than you talk. That’s how the holiday actually becomes meaningful.