Berkeley Lab

First Federal Proclamation for National Indigenous Peoples’ Day – October 2021

Indigenous Peoples’ Day was first proposed during a United Nations conference in 1977 and was first celebrated in Berkeley in 1992. On Friday, the president signed the first federal proclamation recognizing the day as a time to celebrate and recognize the contributions of Indigenous cultures.

“Since time immemorial, American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians have built vibrant and diverse cultures — safeguarding land, language, spirit, knowledge, and tradition across the generations. On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, our Nation celebrates the invaluable contributions and resilience of Indigenous peoples, recognizes their inherent sovereignty, and commits to honoring the Federal Government’s trust and treaty obligations to Tribal Nations.”

Read the full Presidential Action>>