Written and produced by Marissa Orr.
Indigenous Peoples’ Day honors and acknowledges the history of Native Indigenous people whose presence has been around since time immemorial.
For many years Columbus Day has been celebrated and recognized as a federal holiday, diminishing the history and existence of Native Indigenous people.
In the past three years, President Biden issued proclamations recognizing Indigenous Peoples’ Day and the “strength, resilience and courage” of the Indigenous People.
Today about 29 states and Washington D.C. have eliminated the celebration of Columbus Day, and around 216 cities have either renamed or replaced the federal holiday with Indigenous Peoples’ Day, according to a USA Today report.
In Tucson, there is a non-governmental organization called Alianza Indigena Sin Fronteras, also known as Indigenous Alliance Without Borders, that has hosted an Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration in South Tucson every year since 2014.
Although the Indigenous Peoples’ Day event is celebrating its 10th year, the discussion of this day has been around for many years between both the elder and younger generations.
Indigenous Peoples Day Event
At the event were numerous Indigenous vendors selling handmade and contemporary crafts and artwork like jewelry, pottery and clothing. Along with Indigenous artists, there were Indigenous vendors selling their specialty dishes like red chile fry bread and tacos.
The free event included music from Gertie and the T.O. Boyz, Reztones, Mizkoden, and Liazion & H-ZO. There were multiple cultural performances from groups like Pascua Yaqui Deer Dancers and Tohono O’odham W:ak Tab Basket Dancers.
Newly added to the 10th Annual Indigenous Peoples’ Day event was a regalia contest. Community members had the chance to vote on who they believed created the best regalia, a traditional Native American outfit that is personalized with elaborate colors and designs representing self-expression of the dancer’s life, interests and background.
Alianza Indigena Sin Fronteras
The non-governmental organization was founded in 1997 after law enforcement was continuously abusing Indigenous People within the Southern United States and Mexico border region.
The mission of Alianza Indigena Sin Fronteras is to “affirm the rights of Indigenous peoples, their right to self-determination, their collective human and civil rights, the rights of sovereignty and the protection of sacred sites, and the free unrestricted movement across international borders.”
More information on Alianza Indigena Sin Fronteras is found at https://indigenousalliance.org/.
The sounds heard in this story are from the Calpolli Teoxicalli Dance Group.
The background music is titled Remember 04 by The Halluci Nation feat. Re.verse, Chippewa Travellers.
