Indigenous Peoples’ Day | Tribal Learning Journey

On October 12, 1992, Berkeley, CA became one of the first major cities to adopt ‘Indigenous Peoples Day’ while ousting ‘Columbus Day.’ Attributed to the activism and social justice of Native people in the Bay Area, from across Indian Country, and the Resistance 500, protesters were able to halt the intended reenactment of Columbus’ accidental and unintentional landing of Turtle Island. (In 1984, then-president Ronald Reagan created the Christopher Columbus Quincentenary Jubilee Commission; the commission’s purpose was for replicas of Columbus’ three ships to sail along the East Coast and then to California by way of the Panama Canal.)

Today, across the United States, many cities, states, and organizations celebrate and recognize Indigenous Peoples Day. See the Proclamation from Whatcom County signed in 2021 that celebrates Indigenous Peoples Day and recognizes Lummi and Nooksack people as the Indigenous people of Whatcom County since time immemorial.

Furthermore, the Acknowledgement on this year’s Indigenous Peoples Day celebration on Western Washington University’s website details the significant moments in history that has led to Indigenous Peoples Day in Whatcom County:

“In gathering for Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we acknowledge the important history that built what we enjoy today. In 1977, a delegation of Native nations to the United Nations-sponsored International Conference on Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations in the Americas, held in Geneva, proposed (and passed) a resolution to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day. In 1990, the Berkeley, California city council stood with Native communities and allies by establishing the first Indigenous Peoples’ Day formally acknowledged by a major U.S. city as a counter-protest to the upcoming 1992 quincentennial “celebration” of Christopher Columbus’ landing that was being planned in the Bay Area. In 2013, Whatcom Community College (WCC) organized by students and allies organized the first iteration of Whatcom County’s Indigenous Peoples’ Day. In 2014, Bellingham City Council member Roxanne Murphy proposed the establishment of Coast Salish Day that was passed unanimously. In 2017 WCC invited Bellingham Technical College, Northwest Indian College, and Western Washington University to co-collaborate in organizing Indigenous Peoples’ Day forming the growing coalition we enjoy today!” (One People – Acknowledgement, Western Washington University, 2024)