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Indigenous Peoples' Day 2022

Published: October 10, 2022

On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we honor America’s first inhabitants and the Tribal Nations that continue to thrive today. The contributions that Indigenous peoples have made throughout history — in public service, business, education, science, and the arts, among other fields — are integral to our country, our culture, and our society. It is also a day to recognize that there were indigenous people here long before European settlers ever set foot in the Americas, and it is a day to honor that rich history.

For some current context: 

  • As of 2020, 14 U.S. States and more than 130 cities recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day! In 2021, Gov. Abbott signed a state resolution recognizing Indigenous Peoples’ Day on the second Monday in October. 
  • There are currently over 600 Native Nations in the U.S., and 6.8 million Americans identify as Native American (approximately 2% of the U.S. population). 
  • According to the 2010 US Census, approximately 1.1% of Texans identify as Native American 
  • There are three federally recognized tribes that still have reservations in Texas: the Alabama-Coushatta, Tigua, and Kickapoo. 
  • The state of Texas recognizes the Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas, which has its headquarters in McAllen.  

A Greater Celebration  

Commemorating Indigenous Peoples’ Day is an excellent first step in honoring and recognizing the contributions of Native Americans and their rich histories and cultures, but there are many other ways you can make a difference: 

Research  

Engage in research to promote public health among Native American communities. There are several public health researchers doing excellent work in this field, including Dr. Christine Markham, Professor and Chair of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences at UTSPH: 

You can also find more information on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Indian Health Service and the CDC’s Healthy Tribes program.  

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