Columbus Day is a national federal holiday that is observed on the second Monday of October and on this year, October 10. Last October, President Joe Biden issued a proclamation for Indigenous Peoples Day, stating that “our Nation celebrates the invaluable contributions and resilience of Indigenous peoples, recognizes their inherent sovereignty, and commits to honoring the Federal Government’s trust and treaty obligations to Tribal Nations.” Although it is not a national federal holiday, Indigenous Peoples Day continues to be celebrated on the same day as Columbus Day.
In my opinion, it is very important for our children to learn more about and to honor indigenous peoples, not just on one day but also throughout the year. Below are some activities for your children with website links listed at the end of my blog:
The Hennepin County Library in Minnesota has a website page filled with ideas and suggestions, including books and movies.
The Smithsonian National Museum has a list of 5 things to do.
Indian Country Today has a listing by state of activities.
To learn more, please visit:
https://www.hclib.org/about/news/2022/October/celebrate-indigenous-peoples-day
https://nationaltoday.com/indigenous-peoples-day/
https://indiancountrytoday.com/news/more-joy-this-october-an-indigenous-peoples-day-event-list