Decolonizing Holidays

Published October 9th, 2024 at 12:00 am

Indigenous Peoples Day has been an official state holiday since 2019, when Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham established it in law. The holiday — celebrated on the second Monday of October — has roots traced back to the 1970s, but it is likely that Indigenous-led protests of Columbus Day started much earlier than that. While the country has officially recognized Indigenous Peoples Day since 2021 when President Joe Biden made it official with a presidential proclamation, it still isn’t  a federal holiday, even though more than a dozen states recognize some version of the holiday in place of Columbus Day.

On Oct. 14, the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center  will host an Indigenous Peoples Day celebration filled with Indigenous music, dance, art and food. 

Monique Silva, director of guest experience at the cultural center, says the event will be filled with cultural dances and guest speakers. 

“We will start the day off with cultural dances from the Pueblo Dance Group, which is from Laguna, Acoma, Zuni and Hopi Pueblo. At 11:00, we will have the Sky City Buffalo Ram dancers who are from the Acoma Pueblo,” Silva says. “At 1:00 we will have our dignitaries speak. We will have it opened up by our CEO of the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, Michael Camfield and we will have other dignitary speakers here.”

Silva says there  may be more guest speakers or featured attendees added to the schedule. 

“We did ask the governors and the lieutenants to see if anyone wanted to come speak. We’re still waiting on their responses,” Silva says. Silva says they expect nearly 30 artists showcasing their pottery and jewelry with some demonstrating how they make their work. 

The IPCC invites everyone to celebrate and enjoy the event, but also to  learn more about Indigenous culture.

“I think it’s important for people to come to the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center to view the pueblos because New Mexico does cover most of the pueblos,” Silva says. “And then of course, just so they get an aspect of the tradition and culture here.”

More information about ticket prices and schedules can be found here.