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Happy Indigenous Peoples' Day! It's a good day to be Indigenous!

 Here are some of the recent articles from Native News Online you may have missed this past weekend:

Indigenous Peoples' Day Events

Indigenous Peoples’ Day, observed on October 13, 2025, is a time to recognize the history, culture, and ongoing contributions of Indigenous peoples across the United States. 

The day serves as a response to Columbus Day, shifting the focus from colonization to survival, self-determination, and the continued presence of Native nations.

Read the article

Next on Native Bidaské: Indigenous Peoples' Day Should Be About Truth

As the nation observes Indigenous Peoples' Day, Navajo activist and author Mark Charles is urging Americans to move beyond symbolic gestures and confront the deeper truths of this country’s history.

In a conversation with Native Bidaské host Levi Rickert, Charles emphasized that replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples' Day doesn’t go far enough. 

Charles pointed to the Doctrine of Discovery as one of those foundations — a centuries-old set of church doctrines used to justify the colonization of Indigenous lands. He described it as a dehumanizing legacy that still shapes U.S. laws and attitudes today.

Read the article.

Thousands to Gather Before Sunrise on Indigenous Peoples' Day

The International Indian Treaty Council will host its annual Indigenous Peoples’ Day sunrise gathering on Monday, October 13, 2025.

This annual event, hosted by the International Indian Treaty Council (IITC), began as an alternative to Columbus Day celebrations and, at the same time, to honor the occupation of Alcatraz from 1969-1971 by Indians of All Tribes, to protest forced assimilation, displacement, loss of land, language, and culture.

Read the article.

National Museum of the American Indian Closes Amid Federal Government Shutdown

On Sunday, the Smithsonian announced its temporary closure on X, adding that its social media accounts will likely remain inactive until the federal government reopens. The closure affects all Smithsonian institutions, including the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C., and New York City.

The National Museum of the American Indian’s website features the following message at the top of its homepage:

"Due to the government shutdown, our museums in Washington, DC, and New York are temporarily closed. Programs and events at both locations are canceled. Visit si.edu for updates."

Read the article

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More Stories Like This

Native News Weekly (August 25, 2024): D.C. Briefs
US Presidents in Their Own Words Concerning American Indians
Oral History Project Announces 14th Stop in Portland, Oregon: NABS Continues to Gather Crucial Stories Across Indian Country
Indigenous Peoples' Day Letter from IAIA President Dr. Shelly C. Lowe

Help us tell the stories that could save Native languages and food traditions

At a critical moment for Indian Country, Native News Online is embarking on our most ambitious reporting project yet: "Cultivating Culture," a three-year investigation into two forces shaping Native community survival—food sovereignty and language revitalization.

The devastating impact of COVID-19 accelerated the loss of Native elders and with them, irreplaceable cultural knowledge. Yet across tribal communities, innovative leaders are fighting back, reclaiming traditional food systems and breathing new life into Native languages. These aren't just cultural preservation efforts—they're powerful pathways to community health, healing, and resilience.

Our dedicated reporting team will spend three years documenting these stories through on-the-ground reporting in 18 tribal communities, producing over 200 in-depth stories, 18 podcast episodes, and multimedia content that amplifies Indigenous voices. We'll show policymakers, funders, and allies how cultural restoration directly impacts physical and mental wellness while celebrating successful models of sovereignty and self-determination.

This isn't corporate media parachuting into Indian Country for a quick story. This is sustained, relationship-based journalism by Native reporters who understand these communities. It's "Warrior Journalism"—fearless reporting that serves the 5.5 million readers who depend on us for news that mainstream media often ignores.

We need your help right now. While we've secured partial funding, we're still $450,000 short of our three-year budget. Our immediate goal is $25,000 this month to keep this critical work moving forward—funding reporter salaries, travel to remote communities, photography, and the deep reporting these stories deserve.

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Levi headshotThe stakes couldn't be higher. Native languages are being lost at an alarming rate. Food insecurity plagues many tribal communities. But solutions are emerging, and these stories need to be told.

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Levi Rickert (Potawatomi), Editor & Publisher

 
 
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