As there has been a growing movement to declare Indigenous Peoples Day a federal holiday, currently more than 130 cities, including the District of Columbia, celebrate the second Monday in October. Back in 1989, South Dakota became the first state to officially recognize the day It is to honor the more than 476 million Indigenous peoples living across the world, according to the United Nations. It is a day to celebrate their accomplishments, but also a day to pursue ways to support them. Below are a few ways to commemorate:

1. Acknowledge the land you’re on: Research the culture and history of the tribe whose land you’re on by visiting native-land.ca.
2. Rebuild Local Ecosystems with Native Plants. Native Americans developed organic and sustainable systems to gardening, and those techniques are still effective today. If you don’t have a green thumb, partner with a local non-profit and develop native plants that will benefit the environment. Here are some Native American gardening techniques. that will help.
3. Support educational efforts of Indigenous studies in Virginia. Earlier this year, they proposed House Bill 1179 in the General Assembly. Not only will students benefit from having more culturally aware courses, but an educational board that encourages the truth of the Commonwealth’s history towards Indigenous peoples, although recent attempts to honor their history have improved.
4. Donate to causes that support Indigenous Peoples. Here are some organizations to consider financially supporting:

• American Indian College Fund. Help support Native students and tribal college education.
• Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women. This organization aims to end violence against Indigenous women in the United States. Indigenous women are 2.5 times more likely to be sexually assaulted than their non-Indigenous counterparts.
• Seeding Sovereignty. This Indigenous-led collective works to radicalize and disrupt colonized spaces through land, body, and food sovereignty work, community building, and cultural preservation.
• 5. Read on the history of Indigenous Peoples. Here are some books that you can read and learn more about the history and culture of Indigenous persons and the atrocities they suffered at the hands of colonists:

• “A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies” by Bartolomé de las Casas
• “1491: New Revelations Of The Americas Before Columbus” by Charles C. Mann
• “An Indigenous People’s History Of The United States” by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
• “Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee” by Dee Brown

(Editor’s Note: for more information on how to support Indigenous Persons Day, visit the Unexpected Virtual Tours website)