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The second Monday of October is officially recognized as Indigenous Peoples Day in Minnesota. In 

, state legislation eliminated the Christopher Colombus Day holiday and required schools to observe the new holiday.  

Celebrations will take place around the state on Monday and the weekend leading up to the holiday.  

Before Indigenous Peoples Day’s official recognition, events such as 

 have celebrated Minnesota’s Indigenous past and present. The festival will be on its 11th celebration this year.  

The city of Grand Rapids recognized Indigenous Peoples Day in late 2014 and began celebrating the following October. The city will be on its 10th celebration this upcoming Monday.  

Indigenous People’s Weekend Basketball Expo

 will kick off with an early celebration on Saturday and Sunday with family basketball games, art workshops, songs and dance at Johnson High School in St. Paul.  

The expo got its start three years ago with a single event of a three versus three to raise awareness of MMIW (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women). It has since grown into a two-day event on the weekend leading up to Indigenous Peoples’ Day. 

“It’s a reclaiming of time and space around Christopher Columbus Day … but in Minnesota, we have a proclamation that makes it Indigenous Peoples Day,” said Niniijanis One of Ones owner and operator Brook LaFloe.   

LaFloe says basketball is popular in Indigenous communities, not just in Minnesota but all over the U.S. She says the expo’s tournament style is meant to bring communities and families together.  

The expo will begin Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. with a youth camp for children in third grade through middle school. Coaches from tribal communities across the state will be in attendance to help introduce youth to basketball.  

Other activities throughout the weekend include artist workshops, family tournaments and a MMIW basketball game, which begins at 6 p.m. on Saturday. The expo will continue into Sunday with more tournament-style games.  

The expo is open and free to the public to attend. Spots are limited in artist workshops.  

Owámni: Falling Water Festival, Minneapolis 

Indigenous Peoples Day Market, St. Paul 

Indigenous Peoples’ Day (Monday) events:

Indigenous Peoples’ Day Summit, Minneapolis 

Second Annual Ȟaȟá Wakpádaŋ Water Blessing, Crystal 

Second Annual Ȟaȟá Wakpádaŋ Water Blessing

Celebrate with American Indian Magnet School, St. Paul 

Celebrate with American Indian Magnet School

Indigenous Peoples Day Rally, Minneapolis  

Indigenous Peoples Day Powwow, Minneapolis  

Indigenous Peoples Day Breakfast, Fargo, N.D 

Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration, Duluth 

Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration, Crow Wing 

Chandra Colvin

Author

This year, Indigenous Peoples Day lands on Monday, Oct. 14. Some celebrations will begin over the weekend. 

Upcoming Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations to check out around Minnesota

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