WISCONSIN — Indigenous Peoples’ Day will be recognized on Monday, Oct. 9.

The day has been celebrated for years in different forms to honor Native American history and culture.

The Oneida Nation will hold a ceremony for the day, beginning at 8 a.m.

“On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we encourage people to strive and respect indigenous people all across the country,” Oneida Nation Public Relations Director Bobbi Webster said.

The ceremony hosted by The Oneida Nation will occur at the pow wow grounds behind the Norbert Hill Center. The day will start with a traditional ceremony to give thanks for all creation, followed by a host of speakers and the reading of the 2012 Oneida Nation Resolution Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

“After the tobacco burning ceremony, we will have speakers,” Webster said. “We will read the resolution and have a drum and sing an honor song.”

The event will conclude with the release of a Red Tail Hawk back into the wild.

“We want people to be aware of all the indigenous nations across the country, to our contributions and all the things we’ve done for this country,” Webster said. 

In 2021, President Joe Biden issued the first-ever presidential proclamation of Indigenous Peoples’ Day. President Biden said the day is meant to honor America’s first inhabitants and the Tribal Nations. 

Indigenous Peoples’ Day is observed on the second Monday in October, the same day as Columbus Day.

For more information on the events planned, click here.