Albuquerque’s Indigenous Peoples Day celebration begins at Tiguex Park with music, food, and activities, alongside events throughout the week honoring Native culture and achievements
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —
A celebration of Indigenous Peoples Day will be held at Tiguex Park in Albuquerque on Monday, with a focus on uplifting Native American communities and encouraging civic engagement.
The free event runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is the sixth year for the celebration, which will feature traditional and modern music, youth activities, Native American food trucks and vendors, a food sovereignty market and community resource tables.
Attendees can check their voter registration information and learn when, where and how to vote. Organizers said increasing voter turnout among Native American residents is one of the event’s primary goals.
The celebration will also include a meet-and-greet with Navajo athlete Shiyazh Pete, who trained with the Dallas Cowboys this summer and played college football at New Mexico State University and the University of Kentucky.
“We’re Indigenous every day, and I think what’s important through this weeklong celebration of indigeneity is that we’re also raising the profile of individuals who are doing amazing work in our community,” said Darius Smith, executive director of the Native Professional Advancement Center, also known as the National Indian Youth Council.
Smith said the events give organizers an opportunity to recognize Native American community leaders and allow the broader community to celebrate their contributions.
The celebration is part of a larger collaborative effort involving the Native Leadership Collective, a network of 41 Native-led and Native-serving organizations in Albuquerque. Organizers said about 400 tribes are represented across Bernalillo County.
“Everybody is welcome,” said Laura Harris, executive director of Americans for Indian Opportunity. “Come get a taste of Native culture and food and celebrate with all of us.”
Additional Indigenous Peoples Day events are planned throughout the week.
The fifth annual Urban Indigenous Education Summit will be held Thursday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Berna Facio Professional Development Center in Albuquerque.
On Friday, the Native Professional Advancement Center will host the third annual Clyde Warrior Civil Rights Recognition from 3 to 6 p.m. at the South Broadway Cultural Center. The free event will recognize people making an impact in the Native community and honor Warrior’s contributions to Native self-determination, civil rights, youth leadership and Indigenous sovereignty. Organizers encourage attendees to register in advance.
The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center will host traditional Pueblo dances, vendors and children’s face painting Monday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Native American Community Academy will hold its Feast Day at its main campus Friday at 10 a.m.
