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Indigenous Peoples' Day

American  
[in-dij-uh-nuhs pee-puhlz dey] / ɪnˈdɪdʒ ə nəs ˈpi pəlz ˌdeɪ /

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.


Etymology

Origin of Indigenous Peoples' Day

First recorded in 1990–95

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Then-President Joe Biden was the first U.S. president to observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day at the White House in 2021, issuing a presidential proclamation.

From Barron's Oct. 13, 2025

But over time, the day has also become known as Indigenous Peoples’ Day in recognition of the native people who called America home before Columbus’ arrival.

From MarketWatch Oct. 10, 2025

In honor of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, here are a few essential resources to deepen your understanding of the movement.

From Salon Oct. 14, 2024

Rio de Janeiro's iconic Christ the Redeemer statue was lit up green to celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day on Friday.

From BBC Apr. 19, 2024

Yield on the U.S. 10-year note came off its 16-year peak on Tuesday as trading resumed in the U.S. bond market after the Columbus Day, also known as Indigenous Peoples' Day holiday.

From Reuters Oct. 10, 2023

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