It's Indigenous Peoples' Day 2023—here are ways to observe it
From relaxing to shopping, here's how to spend the day
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Indigenous Peoples’ Day is here! Today, October 9 is a time to acknowledge the various Native American groups whose land we live on, as well as recognize their culture, struggles, and perseverance throughout history. Plus, it’s a time of rest, as the day coincides with Columbus Day and many have the day off, giving a much-appreciated three-day weekend. If you’re wondering what exactly Indigenous Peoples’ Day is and ways you can honor it, read on. From watching a documentary about Indigenous people to breaking out the grill to shopping hot-off-the-press Amazon deals, here are various ways you can spend this long weekend.
What is Indigenous Peoples’ Day?
Indigenous Peoples’ Day is a holiday created to raise awareness of Native American communities throughout the Americas. It is officially recognized in various state and city governments across the nation, though it is not recognized as a federal holiday. The holiday was first observed in 1992 as a counter-celebration of Columbus Day, which is observed on the same day and is considered a federal holiday.
When is Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2023?
Indigenous Peoples’ Day is an annual holiday that takes place on the second Monday of October per a declaration made by the Biden administration in 2022. It falls on Monday, October 9 this year.
Ways to observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2023
Honor Indigenous people
One way to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day is by honoring and acknowledging Native American peoples’ voices, struggles, and creativity. You can attend one of the many events put on by Indigenous people. If you don’t feel like going out, there are ways to honor Indigenous people from the comfort of your home, too.
You can learn about Indigenous history through the lens of Indigenous writers through countless riveting books. One example is Native Historians Write Back: Decolonizing American Indian History which cover seminal points in history from Indigenous perspectives.
If you prefer to learn by watching rather than reading, there are also many great documentaries to watch like Reel Injun, a documentary by Cree director Neil Diamond that highlights the portrayals of Indigenous people in Hollywood.
Enjoy a weekend getaway
Another way to spend the day off is by hitting the road (or sky) and taking a trip. Wherever you decide to travel for Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we recommend packing your belongings in our favorite checked luggage bag, the Travelpro Platinum Elite 29” Expandable Spinner. We love this checked luggage because of its excellent maneuverability and premium build.
We know traveling long distances can leave your neck feeling stiff and uncomfortable—especially if you fall asleep on the way there. We recommend that you take our favorite travel pillow with you for your next trip. We love the Cabeau Evolution Classic Travel Pillow because it’s supportive, durable, and adjustable, too.
Kick back and relax
You can opt to just relax on your day off. One of the best ways to do so is snuggling under a weighted blanket, as they’ve been proven to reduce stress and help you get more restful sleep. The best one we’ve tested is by Gravity, as it applies just the right amount of pressure and the weight is distributed evenly. If that wasn’t reason enough to buy it, it’s also easy to clean and durable so it’s sure to last for years.
It’s one thing to relax on your day off, it’s another entirely to pamper yourself on your day off, which is what you’ll do when you use the Ivation Foot Spa Massager, our favorite foot spa. This foot spa features adjustable heating, massage rollers, and a splash guard that doubles as a handle.
Gather with friends and family
There’s no better excuse to gather with friends than having a day off. Fall is fire pit season, so if you don’t have one, we recommend picking up the Tiki Patio Fire Pit. We’ve crowned the Tiki the best fire pit you can buy because it’s easy to start and large enough to keep you and your pals nice and toasty. Plus, it’ll keep the gathering smokeless.
It’s thankfully still warm enough to grill, so if you’re looking for something to cook with during your get-together, look no further than our favorite charcoal grill, the Napoleon NK22K-LEG-2, which is large, sturdy, and distributes heat evenly.
Support Native American brands
Dreamcatchers are a traditional Indigenous sacred craft designed after a spiderweb and meant to catch bad dreams spirits, and negative energy. If you want a dream catcher of your own, it’s important to buy one handmade by an Indigenous person instead of purchasing a mass-produced dream catcher. There are many small shops to buy beautiful, lovingly-made dream catchers like the NativeHandsShop on Etsy.
If you’re looking for something cool to wear, check out Thunder Voice Hat Co., an Indigenous-founded shop that aims to foster “cultural appreciation” instead of appropriation through their Navajo brim hats. The hats of Thunder Voice Hat Co. are vintage-sourced and refurbished. Plus, they can be personalized through accessories and bands.
Ginew is another great Indigenous-owned fashion brand that sells a variety of premium clothing, from stylish jackets to awesome tees. They even sell accessories and blankets. Better yet, you can get 30% off your order right now when you enter the code INDIGENOUS at checkout.
Shop major deals and sales this weekend
Looking to score deals this weekend? You’re in luck because Prime Day is right around the corner and we’ve already got some of the best deals locked and loaded for you to check out right now.