Indigenous Peoples' Day Official Denver City Holiday

Next date: Monday, October 12, 2026 | 12:00 AM to 11:59 PM

The Denver City Council recognizes that the Indigenous Peoples have lived and flourished on the lands known as the Americas since time immemorial, and that Denver and the surrounding communities are built upon the ancestral homelands of numerous Indigenous people, to include two land-based sovereign nations, 49 additional Tribes with legal and historic standing, and is home to the descendants of approximately 150 Tribal Nations. 

Held on the second Monday of October to honor Indigenous American peoples and commemorate their histories and cultures. It began as a counter-celebration held on the same day as Columbus Day, citing the lasting harm Indigenous peoples suffered because of European colonization of the Americas. Many cities, states, and the federal government now commemorate Indigenous Peoples' Day in some way.

In 2016, Denver City Council unanimously voted to recognize October 12 as Indigenous Peoples' Day with a commemorative holiday in city code, stating that Colorado is the ancestral homeland of 49 tribes, that the Denver metro area is home to the descendants of about 100 tribal nations and that Denver will "continue to promote racial equity and justice for all people and oppose discrimination towards Indigenous Peoples."

In 2021, President Joe Biden became the first president to issue a presidential proclamation recognizing Indigenous Peoples' Day. Following these actions, Denver began necessary work to consider making Indigenous Peoples' Day an official city holiday. The last change to Denver's legal holidays was in 2022 when Juneteenth was added. Prior to that, Cesar Chavez Day replaced Election Day in 2001, the Personal Holiday was added in lieu of a previous Birthday Holiday (1990), and MLK Day was added in 1985. 

Boulder County, Golden, and Pueblo also recognize Indigenous Peoples' Day as a holiday. No other Colorado cities have indicated they are considering the holiday. 

View the Bill 25-0261 for Indigenous Peoples' Day holiday

Sponsors of this bill: Stacie Gilmore, Amanda Sandoval, Jamie Torres, Serena Gonzalez-Gutierrez, Diana Romero Campbell, Flor Alvidrez

 

When