Today marks the first Indigenous People's Day to be recognized as an official city holiday in Los Angeles, replacing the long-problematic Columbus Day.
The L.A. City Council voted last August to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous People's Day as a city holiday about two years after Councilman Mitch O'Farrell introduced the motion.
Happy Indigenous Peoples’ Day! How are you celebrating Native American people, their history and their culture today? pic.twitter.com/wmJWNRbfuH
— Los Angeles County (@CountyofLA) October 8, 2018
The county and city of L.A. have teamed up to throw the inaugural celebration, which kicked off at 7 a.m. and runs to 7 p.m. at both City Hall and Grand Park. The festivities include a 5K run, parade of nations, Native American powwow, fashion show, and a performance by Native American rock group Redbone and the Black Eyed Peas to close out the evening.
RELATED STORY: A Brief History Of L.A.'s Indigenous Tongva People
Rudy Ortega Jr. of LA Indian Commission blesses the inaugural indigenous people day in LA (this is Tongva land). @kpcc @LAist pic.twitter.com/pV5oGptrvb
— Alyssa Jeong Perry (@alyssajperry) October 8, 2018
Procession of nations has started now at the main stage in front of LA city hall.@LAist @kpcc pic.twitter.com/c3PtN0ohrl
— Alyssa Jeong Perry (@alyssajperry) October 8, 2018
By noon Monday, the festivities were ramping up, with hundreds of people filling Grand Park with dancing and drum circles.
Drumming is the heartbeat of the day #IndigeniousPeoplesDay @LAist @kpcc pic.twitter.com/MDn1U9Qy9A
— Alyssa Jeong Perry (@alyssajperry) October 8, 2018
grand park is filled with dancing and drum circles now @kpcc @LAist #IndigenousPeopleDay2018 pic.twitter.com/VmovKyeLNg
— Alyssa Jeong Perry (@alyssajperry) October 8, 2018
Please share! The schedule of activities for #IndigenousPeoplesDay2018!#NativeAmerican #IPD2018 #IPDLA2018 #IndigenousPeoplesDay pic.twitter.com/TyandeUmVm
— Mitch O'Farrell (@MitchOFarrell) October 4, 2018
We'll have more to add as the festivities continue today.
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