*Initial note: Indigenous Peoples Day forms part of a broader cultural reckoning with the history of European aggression against Native American peoples, which included genocide and slavery. Read more about this history as it relates to the history of California specifically in a piece called, “Involuntary Servitude, Apprenticeship, and Slavery of Native Americans in California.” (2022)
The story of Indigenous People’s Day as a federally recognized holiday is part of a journey that US society is undergoing in which we cast off oppressive colonial ethos that once taught us to celebrate things like Columbus Day and instead work toward the development of a culture that celebrates Native American peoples, nations, cultures, and their contributions to society.
The cultivation of this culture is underway and will continue to take shape over many more years to come. For the purposes of this article on this Indigenous People’s Day, 2023, we offer a few suggestions about how you can celebrate and learn about the Native heritage and histories of the Inland Empire and Coachella Valley region, home to 13 federally recognized tribal groups. This is by no means a comprehensive list, rather a jumping off point for getting to know a bit about what is going on in the region.
1. Learn about the land you inhabit
We posted an article about the Native Peoples of the Inland Empire Region recently. Check it out here!
2. Attend Events
The Inland Empire and Coachella Valley is one of the most culturally diverse regions in the country and is rich with Indigenous cultural events. Many Powwows are held throughout the year. Powwows are cultural events and serve a dual function of (1) providing an opportunity for tribal groups to gather, and (2) as a showcase of cultural expression, such as traditional song and dance, for Natives & non-Natives alike.
The Cabazon Band of Mission Indians will hold a Powwow event November 24-26.
The Twentynine Palms Band of Mission Indians hosts The Winter Gathering Powwow in Coachella and is a celebration of the Indigenous peoples of USA, Canada, and Mexico.
The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians are ramping up for a big winter season. Friday, November 3 is the grand opening of the Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza, a cultural center in the heart of Palm Springs. The following day, November 4, they will hold their Kewet Learning Day and Market in Palm Springs.
Agua Caliente’s Singing of the Birds takes place in January and is a showcase of the Tribe’s bird songs, sacred histories of the Cahuilla people that tell their stories of creation, migration, and ancestral wisdom.
Find out about all these events at aguacaliente.org
The Morongo Band of Mission Indians hold a Powwow event every September, drawing crowds from all over.
3. Support Native Business
The Malki Museum
The Morongo Band of Mission Indians have an ethnobotanical garden and interpretive center called the Malki Museum, containing art and artifacts from Indigenous peoples of Southern California. It is well worth the visit and located adjacent to the Cabazon Outlets and Morongo Casino, just a few miles past Banning, CA going east.
Malki Museum : California’s First Museum founded by Native Americans
Quiet Quail Bookseller
Quiet Quail is a bookseller based in the Inland Empire whose mission is to connect and collaborate with communities throughout Southern California and promote Indigenous authored publications. Check out their website, Instagram, and catch them at tabling events around SoCal.
Temalpakh Farm
A small-scale farm providing farm boxes and locally grown produce. Temalpakh is run by sisters and council members of the Augustine Band of Cahuilla Indians, based out of Coachella. Read more about their incredible journey here.
4. Follow accounts that teach about and celebrate Indigenous culture
News from Native California
A quarterly publication devoted to cultural and social justice causes for Native Californians. Their website includes resources, a calendar of events, an active blog, and more.
First Nations Development Institute
The First Nations Development Institute is a 42-year old, Native-led nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Native American communities and economies. One initiative of this organization is The California Tribal Fund, which was created to support California-based, California-Native-led nonprofits and tribal programs in controlling and protecting their food systems, water, languages, traditional ecological knowledge, and land. Check out their Instagram
Accounts to Follow
There are so many great Native accounts to follow. We’ve picked just a few excellent accounts that embody the many causes that Native and Indigenous peoples throughout the Americas are leading today, including environmental activism, decolonization, the revival of ancestral wisdom and tradition, modern understandings of indigineity, and the challenging of gender norms.
Gerald Clarke is a Cahuilla artist and educator who was featured in Desert X this year.
@coloralamexicana An ethical fashion brand promoting Mexican indigineity and culture.
@kendrajessie Cree/Ukranian dancer
@indigenousunited A page devoted to the decolonization of the mind, encompassing Indigenous expression and culture throughout the Americas.
@micorazonmexica A Chicano artist devoted to the revival and reinterpretation of the ancestral wisdom of Mexico using the surviving codices of the Aztec and Mixtec people.
@wildquetzal An educator and promoter of ancestral ways of living.
@mujeresamazonicas Native, ecological activists protecting the Amazon rainforest.
@EarthDaughters Uplifting Transnational Indigenous women & LGBTQ2S+ through Mutual Aids & Sustainability
@nuestrasraicesverdes Environmental Justice Storytelling
@IndigenousClimateAction Indigenous-led • Supporting Youth Leaders • Research & Training • Divestment • Healing Justice • Just Transition
@queerquechua A “trans native mutant,” of Quechua and Turkish decent
@che.jim Diné/Nishnaabe/Chicano making entertaining and informative Tiktok content
@notoriouscree Cree dancer and educator
Do you follow other accounts like these? Post them in the comments!
Happy Indigenous Peoples’ Day today and always.