How Kansas City is marking Indigenous Peoples Day
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Kansas City is using Indigenous Peoples Day, on Oct. 13, to spotlight Native stories — even as the date remains tied to Columbus Day for much of the country.
The big picture: Kansas City, Missouri, began formally marking Indigenous Peoples Day in 2017.
- Its resolution named the Kaw, Osage, Missouria, Shawnee and Wyandot as the region's original inhabitants, reframing the day to center Native stories.
Zoom out: Columbus Day remains a federal holiday. But a growing number of states — at least 17 — and D.C. now formally recognize Indigenous Peoples Day, sometimes in place of Columbus Day and sometimes alongside it. Others simply don't recognize either as a state-level holiday.
Zoom in: Missouri closes state offices for Columbus Day, which became a legally recognized holiday in 1909, backed early by Kansas City's Italian community.
- Kansas keeps offices open. Columbus Day was never made a legal state holiday, and while governors have issued Indigenous Peoples Day proclamations, the state hasn't recognized it officially.
What to expect: Events across the metro are spotlighting Indigenous culture.
- The Shawnee Indian Mission Fall Festival runs Oct. 12-13 in Fairway, Kansas, with Native foods, dance and storytelling.
- The University of Kansas Office of Sovereign Partnerships is hosting events this week around Indigenous identity and heritage.
- Institutions including KC Repertory Theatre and the Westport Historical Society have adopted Indigenous land acknowledgments and programming that highlight Native history.