© 2024 KUNM
89.9 FM Live From The University Of New Mexico
Give Now
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Native communities celebrate Indigenous People’s Day

KUNM | By Jeanette DeDios
Published October 11, 2022 at 12:27 PM MDT
The Chichimeca Mexica Azteca group performing at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center on Indigenous People's Day.
1 of 8  — IPD1.JPG
The Chichimeca Mexica Azteca group performing at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center on Indigenous People's Day.
Jeanette DeDios
Pojoaque and Nambe danacers performing at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center.
2 of 8  — IPD2.JPG
Pojoaque and Nambe danacers performing at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center.
Jeanette DeDios
Zuni dancer performing at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center.
3 of 8  — IPD3.JPG
Zuni dancer performing at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center.
Jeanette DeDios
Female dancer adjusting her footwear from the Calpulli Tlacayotl group from Chichimeca Mexica Azteca .
4 of 8  — IPD4.JPG
Female dancer adjusting her footwear from the Calpulli Tlacayotl group from Chichimeca Mexica Azteca .
Jeanette DeDios
Calpulli Tlacayotl group from Chichimeca Mexica Azteca performing at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center.
5 of 8  — IPD5.JPG
Calpulli Tlacayotl group from Chichimeca Mexica Azteca performing at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center.
Jeanette DeDios
Calpulli Tlacayotl group from Chichimeca Mexica Azteca performing at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center.
6 of 8  — IPD6.JPG
Calpulli Tlacayotl group from Chichimeca Mexica Azteca performing at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center.
Jeanette DeDios
The public joining the Calpulli Tlacayotl group from Chichimeca Mexica Azteca during a dance.
7 of 8  — IPD7.JPG
The public joining the Calpulli Tlacayotl group from Chichimeca Mexica Azteca during a dance.
Jeanette DeDios
Calpulli Tlacayotl group from Chichimeca Mexica Azteca performing at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center.
8 of 8  — IPD8.JPG
Calpulli Tlacayotl group from Chichimeca Mexica Azteca performing at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center.
Jeanette DeDios

October 10th marked the fourth year that New Mexico has recognized Indigenous People’s Day, with celebrations across the state including at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque, where Native tribes, dancers and civic officials celebrated.

Dawn Nuvayestewa is Hopi and the cultural events coordinator at the center. She said that the pandemic has prevented a lot of people from participating in the dances and watching them in recent years, but this year is different.

"I think this year, a lot of people are very happy to see those dancers and those groups, and just being able to be out and about again."

Sunshine Duran, from the Chichimeca Mexica Azteca group described how she feels when she’s dancing.

"As I make my prayer in the middle of the circle, I just sometimes feel like something inside of me is saying, I'm dancing with my ancestors, and I feel light as a feather," said Duran. "And I just let the beat of the drum take me wherever it wants to take me."

Also marking Indigenous People's Day, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed an executive order rescinding proclamations from the 1800s, by territorial governors, that included authorization of violence against Native people.

Lujan Grisham signed a bill replacing Columbus Day, which commemorated the day Christopher Columbus made landfall in 1492, with Indigenous People's Day in 2019.

The bill passed the legislature but continues to be divisive. The Republican Party of New Mexico issued a statement yesterday saying, "we commemorate Columbus Day."

The statement said that the left has attempted to erase the history of Columbus which it called unfortunate as, "Christopher Columbus's discovery into America includes lessons that we as Americans must continue to learn from."

Nuvayestewa, the events co-ordinator, said that the Indigenous People's Day celebrations were a good way for Native and other people to learn about history.

"Just being able to celebrate where we come from who we are, being able to tell people a little bit about our culture and our dances, I think it's good to just share that information," she said. "Just for others to know and to respect each other."
Tags
Local News Indigenous Peoples DayIndian Pueblo Cultural CenterDawn NuvayestewaSunshine DuranMichele Lujan Grisham
Jeanette DeDios
Jeanette DeDios is from the Jicarilla Apache and Diné Nations and grew up in Albuquerque, NM. She graduated from the University of New Mexico in 2022 where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Multimedia Journalism, English and Film. She’s a former Local News Fund Fellow. Jeanette can be contacted at jeanettededios@kunm.org or via Twitter @JeanetteDeDios.
See stories by Jeanette DeDios
Related Content
  • Indigenous People's Day Celebration
    The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center invites the public to join its commemoration of the fourth statewide Indigenous Peoples Day holiday on Monday, Oct. 10. New Mexico's native tribes will gather with civic officials and the public to celebrate; the daylong event is open to all and will include dignitaries, Native cultural dances, a historical presentation, and artists' booth/demonstrations. Admission is free for members and Native Americans; or included with museum admission. Traditional regalia is encouraged for tribal members.
  • Protesters marched in an Indigenous Peoples Day rally in Boston on Oct. 10, 2020, as part of a demonstration to change Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples' Day. Boston made that change last week.
    NPR News
    Goodbye, Columbus? Here's what Indigenous Peoples' Day means to Native Americans
    Emma Bowman
    A growing movement recasts the second Monday in October as a day to appreciate the history of Indigenous communities. That visibility, say Native Americans, can help us see what else needs to change.
  • Public Affairs
    Indigenous People's Day!
    Sun. 10/10 7p: This week on Generation Justice, we featured Regis Pecos and Christine Sims, two indigenous elders, who spoke about Indigenous People’s Day…
  • Entertainment
    Celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day
    Katie Stone
    Sat. 10/10 9a: This week on The Children’s Hour, we learn about Indigenous Peoples Day. Plus we are treated to live music from an all women mariachi band,…
  • People look on at a celebration of Indigenous Peoples' Day in 2016 at Seattle's City Hall. Seattle began observing Indigenous Peoples' Day two years earlier to promote the well-being and growth of Seattle's Indigenous community.
    Columbus Day Or Indigenous Peoples' Day?
    Leila Fadel
    More and more places in the United States are dropping Columbus Day in favor of Indigenous Peoples' Day, but the shift isn't happening without some pushback.
Load More