Indigenous Peoples’ Day is dedicated to recognizing and honoring Native and Indigenous peoples’ history and culture in the United States. This year, it will be observed on Monday, October 14. Below, we’ve listed incredible ways to celebrate and honor these communities throughout the month and beyond.
In 2017, Los Angeles City Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell, a member of the Wyandotte Nation, declared the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples’ Day in Los Angeles. At that time, it was a significant move, making Los Angeles one of the largest U.S. cities to adopt this observance. In 2019, Gov. Gavin Newsom extended this recognition statewide, declaring Indigenous Peoples’ Day a Calfornia holiday.
1. Visit the Antelope Valley Indian Museum
Found in the northeastern area of Los Angeles County, the Antelope Valley Indian Museum houses objects created by the Native American cultures of the western Great Basin, California, and the Southwest. Admission is $3 for adults (cash or credit cards only). Kids age 12 and under are free.
📍Location: 15701 East Avenue M Lancaster, California, 935352
2. Attend a gala about Indigenous culture
The Indigenous Fashion Collective has announced a gala in Los Angeles on October 12, 2024, featuring Indigenous couture. The event, themed “Still Here, Still Vibrant: Indigenous Couture Shaping The Future,” will take place during Indigenous Peoples Day weekend. It offers fashion enthusiasts a chance to explore Indigenous fashion and gain insights from prominent Native models, designers, and entrepreneurs.
📍 Location: Autry Museum, Griffith Park, 4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles, CA 90027
🗓️ When: Saturday, October 12, 2024, from 6 pm – 11 pm.
3. Support Lakota Language Preservation at the Autry Museum
Oyate Woyaka (The People Speak), highlights fluent speakers of the nearly extinct Lakota language. The film explores the history of this decline and the ongoing efforts to preserve and revitalize the ancestral language.
Discover the compelling stories shared in this documentary and support an important cause by attending our fundraiser. All proceeds will go directly to language preservation initiatives.
📍 Location: Autry Museum, Griffith Park, 4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles, CA 90027
🗓️ When: Monday, October 14 · 6 – 9pm
🎫 Ticket info
4. Be part of a Pow Wow in DTLA
This one-day event, held across the street from L.A. City Hall, kicks off Native American Heritage Month. When you arrive, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in prayer and healing. The community will be able to enjoy incredible dancers and drummers, savor delicious foods, and view beautiful artwork from vendors at this open and free event.
📍 Location: 233 N. Spring Street – Grand Park/ Yaangna, Los Angeles, CA, 90012
🗓️ When: November 2, 2024
5. Explore this cutting-edge photo exhibit
Wendy Red Star is renowned for capturing herself in intricately designed scenes, directly engaging viewers and highlighting her role in narratives of her own creation. In Stirs Up the Dust, part of her celestial couture series Thunder Up Above, Red Star reinterprets the regalia traditionally associated with powwow—an Indigenous Plains celebration, including her own Crow Nation, through a futuristic lens.
📍 Location: Autry Museum, Griffith Park, 4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles, CA 90027
🗓️ When: Until 2025
6. Learn more about the Gabrielino-Tongva Tribe
The best way to celebrate and honor the past, present, and future of indigenous and native people is to educate ourselves on their history, and the history of their land we live on. As stated on the TongvaPeople.com site, Gabrielino-Tongva villages were located in the Los Angeles Basin for thousands of years. These villages were located near and around the ever-changing Los Angeles River, San Gabriel River, Santa Ana River, and the coastal areas.
To learn more, please visit TongvaPeople.org and GabrielinoTribe.org
7. Attend the LA SKINS FEST, a Native American Filmmaker Showcase
LA SKINS FEST returns this November with their 18th edition of their week-long celebration of Native American cinema at the iconic Chinese Theater in Hollywood, CA. This festival showcases distinctive and original works, offering fresh voices and unique perspectives from the indigenous community. Films selected for the festival will also be eligible for awards at the Hard Rock in Hollywood.
Throughout the week, the festival will feature exciting new indigenous films, the 13th Annual Native Media Awards Celebration, and the 6th Annual Hollywood Pow Wow. Additionally, it will host indigenous filmmakers from around the globe, highlighting their contributions to the world of cinema. Find more info here!
📍Location: Chinese Theater in Hollywood, CA
🗓️ Date: November 19 — 24, 2024
8. Join the Getty’s annual celebration
The museum will launch the festival with various activities, including creating cyanotype prints and traditional instruments like Tongva clapper sticks. The celebration will also feature performances by the youth music group Wildhorse Native American Assn and the ensemble Flower Songs.
📍Location: 1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90049
🗓️ Date: October 12, 2024, from 11 am — 4 pm
What is Indigenous Peoples’ Day?
Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebrates the histories, futures, cultures, and viewpoints of Indigenous peoples and their ancestors who inhabited what is now North America long before Europeans arrived. The day aims to raise awareness of their challenges, resilience, and distinct traditions, while promoting understanding and unity among different cultures.
When is Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebrated?
Indigenous Peoples’ Day is celebrated b every year on the second Monday of October, which falls on October 14 in 2024.
Edited by Sophie Len & Sofia Delpueche