Indigenous Peoples' Day
Oct. 1, 2025
Osiyo/Yá’átééh/Greetings Brandeis Community,
“Osiyo” (Cherokee) and “Yá’átééh” (Navajo) are each commonly used as greetings that also mean “goodness upon you.” On that note, we invite everyone to join us on Thursday, October 9, to participate in our Indigenous Peoples Day program in the Shapiro Campus Center (SCC) Multipurpose Room. The observance of Indigenous Peoples Day is about Native American and Indigenous peoples’ presence, histories, and resilience. More than acknowledgement, it is about active support of Indigenous communities and caring for the lands we reside upon.
According to National Today, “The first seed of Indigenous Peoples' Day was planted at a U.N. international conference on discrimination in 1977. The first state to recognize the day was South Dakota in 1989. Today, 14 U.S. states celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day and not Columbus Day, as well as the District of Columbia. More than 130 cities [in Massachusetts] including Arlington, Amherst, Cambridge, Brookline, Marblehead, Great Barrington, Northampton, Provincetown, Somerville, and Salem also celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day.” Here at Brandeis, Indigenous Peoples Day was officially recognized in 2016 and added to the academic calendar.
Our theme this year is “Contemporary Indigenous Experiences” and we invite everyone to join us on Thursday, October 9, in the SCC Multipurpose Room for a panel discussion and celebration of Indigenous Peoples Day.
Contemporary Indigenous Experiences Panel Presentation
Thursday, Oct. 9
12 – 2 p.m.
Our panelists include Geraldine Barney (Diné), Dr. Preston Taylor Stone (Eastern Cherokee), and Emily Pahuamba ‘27 (P'urhépecha), and they will share their perspectives regarding contemporary Indigenous experiences. We will also have Native artisans in the SCC atrium along with Indigenous inspired food.
To learn more about previous Indigenous Peoples Day events here at Brandeis, we encourage you to check out the Intercultural Center’s online archive of previous speakers.
We hope to see you there!
In community,
Preston Taylor Stone (Eastern Cherokee), PhD
Helaine B. Allen and Cynthia L. Berenson Postdoctoral Fellow
Department of Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies
LeManuel Bitsóí (Navajo), EdD
Vice Provost for Access and Excellence
Associate Research Professor of Health: Science, Society and Policy