Orange County community groups, colleges and cultural institutions will celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day this month with events that honor Native American history, culture and resilience.
The area encompassing present-day OC was once inhabited by the Tongva and Acjachemen peoples hundreds of years ago.
The holiday – which falls on the second Monday of October – has been recognized by Gov. Gavin Newsom in recent years through proclamations he signs. In 2021, President Joe Biden issued the first federal proclamation commemorating Indigenous Peoples Day.
Many cities have increasingly opted to do away with celebrations of Columbus Day historically held on the same day in favor of retelling a more complete story of the arrival of Europeans in the Americas.
“It’s such an important day of recognition in order to reflect and really celebrate our heritage and traditions,” said Nathan Banda, Tribal Chairman of the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians, Acjachemen Nation. “It honors the ongoing contributions of our people here and across the Americas.”
“We have played a key role in the birth of this country, so it gives us the opportunity to correct some of the cultural narratives that have been out there, and educate and celebrate our culture that has been passed down through generations.”
Banda says that he meets many in Orange County that don’t know about tribes indigenous to the area.
Nathan Banda at Putuidem Village on Aug. 17, 2023. Credit: ERIKA TAYLOR, Voice of OC.
Here are a few noteworthy free celebrations happening today and this weekend.
Anaheim
Participants during the first Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration in Anaheim which took place in 2020. Credit: Photo courtesy of Anaheim Indigenous Peoples’ Day Committee
Celebrate the indigenous tribes of Orange County and Southern California during a celebration in Anaheim.
People can start the day with a prayer walk at the Anaheim Coves Lincoln Trailhead, then head to city hall at 11:00 a.m. for a land acknowledgement proclamation program. The event finishes at the Downtown Community center for a potluck and closing prayer from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
When: October 13, 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.
Where: Locations of programming vary throughout the day. The Anaheim Coves Lincoln Trailhead is located at 2916 E Lincoln Ave., Anaheim, CA 92806. Anaheim City Hall is located at 200 S Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim, CA 92805. The Anaheim Downtown Community Center is located at 250 E. Center St., Anaheim, CA 92805.
Cost: Free
For more information, contact Dr. Patricia Adelekan at (714) 628-9844 or Adam Loya (562) 330-6869
Fullerton
Visit the Cadena Cultural Center at Fullerton College for a celebration of indigenous culture, including dances and community dialogue.
The cultural center is located on the second floor of the Student Support Center in room 201.
When: October 13, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Where: 321 E. Chapman Ave., Fullerton, CA 92832
Cost: Free
For more details, contact the cultural center at (714) 992-7105 or cadena@fullcoll.edu
Upcoming Indigenous People’s Day Events
San Juan Capistrano
Honor indigenous ancestry and the 250th anniversary of Mission San Juan Capistrano at the Acjachemen Nation Powwow at Putuidem Village.
Putuidem was the “mother” village for the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians and Acjachemen Nation, thriving for years until the arrival of Mission San Juan Capistrano in the late 1770s.
When: October 18, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Where: Northwest Open Space, 30281 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
Cost: Free
For more details, contact the SJC 250 celebration at info@sjc250.org
[Read: Putuidem Village Unearths OC Indigenous History]
Orange
Attend a talk on how to build strategies to protect the planet using Indigenous knowledge and methods in Chapman University’s Cross Cultural Center lounge.
When: October 22, 1:00 p.m. to 3:50 p.m.
Where: Chapman University, One University Dr., Orange, CA 92866
Cost: Free
For more details, contact the university at (714) 997-6815
If you know of a free public agency event that the Voice of OC should be aware of, send an email to etaylor@voiceofoc.org
For more events, please refer to the Voice of OC Calendar.
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