Indigenous Peoples' Day

[in-dij-uh-nuhs pee-puhlz dey]

noun

1. the second Monday in October, a holiday in the United States that honors the Indigenous peoples of the Americas and celebrates their history and culture: In many states and other localities, the holiday is variously observed in place of Columbus Day or along with it.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Indigenous Peoples' Day¹

First recorded in 1990–95

Example Sentences

GOP lawmakers have even proposed legislation to penalize municipalities that dropped Columbus Day in favor of Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

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Dozens of U.S. cities and states — including Los Angeles, Seattle, and Philadelphia — now observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day to honor Native resilience and acknowledge the violence of colonization.

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Bond markets are closed Monday for the Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples’ Day break.

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However, Indigenous Peoples’ Day remained a nonfederal holiday.

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Today, Maine and New Mexico are among a handful of states that refer to Columbus Day as Indigenous Peoples’ Day to honor the native inhabitants of the land.

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