City Celebrates Indigenous Peoples Day

The City of Albuquerque was one of the first in the nation to adopt Indigenous Peoples’ Day as a city holiday and continues to be a model for meaningful Indigenous relations. Under Mayor Keller, the Office of Native American Affairs was established, and the city honors its commitments to tribal sovereignty and Indigenous rights through the Commission on American Indian and Alaskan Native Affairs.

“It is important that we continue to acknowledge how meaningful it is to honor and celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day in our city” said Mayor Tim Keller. “We recognize the powerful contributions of Native people in our community, and the important role they played, and continue to play, in making Albuquerque what it is today.”

The City celebrated Indigenous Peoples Day with the Native community at Tiguex Park. The City’s Office of Native American Affairs supported community organization, Americans for Indian Opportunity (AIO) for the Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration. This event garnered dozens of people who had the opportunity to participate in youth activities, browse various resource vendors, win raffle prizes, and even register to vote. The event also featured a meet and greet with popular Indigenous Tik Tok creators, and live musical performances by Indigenous artists Sage Bond and Emmet Yepa. 

“This event allows us to brings Albuquerque’s Natives together so we can all celebrate in community with one another” said Kyle Tapaha, Commission on American Indian Alaskan Native Affairs Chair and AIO Urban Indigenous Organizer. “Indigenous people are still here, and it is through honoring days that we recognize that.”