Indigenous Peoples' Day
Why do we honor Indigenous Peoples' Day?
Indigenous Peoples' Day honors Alaska Native people, culture and knowledge. The unanimous support for this special day acknowledges how the contributions of Alaska Native peoples and Indigenous knowledge enhance education provided by the University of Alaska. Indigenous Peoples' Day is recognized on the second Monday of October.
In 2017, the University of Alaska Fairbanks celebrated Indigenous Peoples' Day for the first time. Resolutions from students, staff and faculty groups across the University of Alaska system have unanimously supported recognizing “Indigenous Peoples' Day.” Each campus hosted a culturally relevant event incorporating elements of the indigenous history of place, culture and language associated with their regions.
The University of Alaska Fairbanks will celebrate 2022 Indigenous Peoples' Day with
several events and activities across our different colleges, campuses, and departments.
- Monday, Oct. 10: The UAF Kuskokwim Campus in Bethel, AK will celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day with
a community celebration, “Kayungcallerkaanek Qaneryaramta”, from 12 p.m.-8 p.m. at
the Yupiit Piciyarait Cultural Center. Festivities will include an Indigenous Peoples'
Day March, a Native Foods Potluck, Yuraq performances, and more. For more information,
visit the event Facebook page.
- Monday, Oct. 10: The UAF Northwest Campus in Nome, AK will host its annual Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Film Festivalfrom 12:00 pm-5:00 pm in the Northwest Campus Nagozruk Conference Room.
For more information, visit the NWC Facebook page.
- Monday, Oct. 10: The UAF Alaska Native Language Center will premiere a new film, Awake, followed by a short discussion via Zoom from 11am-noon. Please register for the Zoom link in advance.
- Monday, Oct. 10: The UAF Festival of Native Arts will host their annual Fry Bread Taco Fundraiser from noon-2 p.m. in the Brooks Building on the Troth Yeddha' Campus.
- Monday, Oct. 10: Nanook Diversity and Action Center is hosting a workshop on how to make beaded sun
catchers with Laura Ekada from 5 p.m.-7 p.m. in the Brooks Building Gathering Room.
All the materials will be provided. The first 15 people to fill out this form can attend the workshop. If you are unable to make it, please let us know so that another person can take your place.
- The College of Rural and Community Development will host the annual “Rock your Moccs”
week from Oct. 10-14. Please take a photo of your moccasins and tag @uafcrcd to have your photo featured
on social media.
- The College of Rural and Community Development will host weekly “Kuspuk Wednesdays”
for the month of October. Wear your kuspuks on Wednesday and tag @uafcrcd to have your photo featured on social
media.
- Wednesday, Oct. 12: CRCD is hosting a monthly speaker series during the 2022-2023 academic year highlighting
our research. The next presentation in the series will feature Tribal Governance faculty
Michelle Demmert presenting on the impacts of the Violence Against Women Act in Alaska
on Wednesday, Oct. 12th from 12 - 1 p.m. Register for the Zoom link in advance.
Event archive
Date: Monday, October 11, 2021 (virtual)
The University of Alaska Fairbanks Indigenous Peoples' Day celebration took place on Monday, Oct. 11, 2021. Our goal in celebrating Indigenous Peoples' Day at UAF is to honor Alaska Native people, culture and knowledge.
If you are in the UAF community and your department or program honored the day - share with us! Let us know what you did and we can post it here for our community to join in. Email uaf-crcd@alaska.edu.
Indigenous Peoples' Day 2021 Keynote:
Dr. Pearl Brower
About Dr. Brower:
Dr. Brower joined the University of Alaska in August of 2021 and serves as the Senior Advisor for Alaska Native Success, Institutional Diversity and Student Engagement. Prior to joining the University team, she was the President and CEO of Brower Consulting Services, an independent consulting service around the state of Alaska. In October of 2020, Dr. Brower left the Presidency of Iḷisaġvik College, Alaska’s only Tribal College where she had been in administration at the college for 13 years, the last 8 serving as President.
About the presentation:
“October 11th has transitioned in recent years to celebrate the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas. As Alaskans continue to engage in conversations around race, equity, diversity and inclusion, REDI, we look to recognize our Alaska Native Peoples for incredible accomplishments while at the same time discuss ways in which we all can set aside implicit bias and work together in cooperation and partnership for a brighter future for all Alaskans.”
Date: Monday, October 12, 2020
Theme: "Resiliency Through Hope and Love."
Many thanks to our IPD event planning team for putting together a virtual program in celebration of Indigenous Peoples' Day.
The University of Alaska Fairbanks Indigenous Peoples' Day celebration will took place on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020, at 11 a.m. Our goal in celebrating Indigenous Peoples' Day at UAF is to honor Alaska Native people, culture and knowledge. The year's theme was "Resiliency Through Hope and Love". We hope to continue to:
- Share how the interconnectedness of Indigenous people, land and spirit — the love and the hope of a sustainable future — is what drives us to work together.
- Spread public awareness of the histories, experiences and resilience of Indigenous peoples.
Keynote: Heather Kendall-Miller
Alaska Native rights attorney, Heather Kendall-Miller gave the keynote address at UAF's Indigenous Peoples' Day celebration, Monday, Oct. 12, 2020, at 11 a.m. The year's theme is "Resiliency Through Hope and Love." The event is available online at media.uaf.edu.
Kendall-Miller is Denaina Athabaskan and a tribal member of the Curyung Tribe of Dillingham, Alaska. She received her Bachelors degree from UAF in 1988 and her J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1991. After clerking with Chief Justice Rabinowitz of the Alaska Supreme Court, Heather received a two-year Skadden Fellowship to work for Alaska Legal Services and the Native American Rights Fund in the area of Alaska Native Rights. Heather became staff attorney with the Native American Rights Fund in 1993. Her litigation experience is broad having argued before the United States Supreme Court, the D.C. Court of Appeals, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals en banc."
Oct12
Keynote with Heather Kendall-Miller
Oct13
Oct13
Media coverage
Media coverage
UAF Community Campus celebrations
Media coverage
- 2018 press release
- Native America Calling: "Indigenous Peoples Day Momentum"
- KTUU -TV "Late Edition" newscast in Anchorage
- KTVF TV: "UAF celebrates Indigenous Peoples Day"
- UAF Sun Star: "Indigenous Peoples Day at UAF"
- Fairbanks Daily News-Miner: "UAF celebrates Indigenous Peoples Day"
- Fairbanks Daily News-Miner: "Indigenous Peoples Day photo gallery"
- Alaska Public Media: "UAF joins in Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations"
- KYUK Radio: "Yuraq Culture Monday At KuC's Indigenous Peoples Day"
- KUAC Morning News on October 8 (last story in newscast)
- Alaska Public Radio Network: "Alaska tribes gather together to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day" story aired on: KTOO, Radio Canada International
Media coverage
- 2017 press release
- Fox News Online: "Columbus Day nixed for 'Indigenous Peoples Day' by more universities nationwide"
- Associated Press: "First Indigenous Peoples Day offers a peek into the future"
- National Native News: "Celebrations across the US to recognize Indigenous Peoples Day"
- Fairbanks Daily News-Miner: "Sean Topkok: a life dedicated to cultural heritage"
- KTVF TV: "UAF hosting first annual celebration of Indigenous Peoples Day"
- Fairbanks Daily News-Miner: "UAF to host inaugural Indigenous Peoples Day"
- Fairbanks Daily News-Miner: "UAF embraces Indigenous Peoples Day"
- Alaska Public Media: "UAF joins in Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations"
- Arctic Sounder: "Chukchi Campus celebrates Indigenous Peoples Day"
- Delta Discovery: "Bethel community celebrate inaugural Indigenous Peoples Day"
- KYUK Radio: "University plans Indigenous Peoples Day celebration at the cultural center on Monday"
- KYUK Radio: "Bethel's first Indigenous Peoples Day at Cultural Center"