Oklahoma City will permanently recognize the second Monday of each October as Indigenous Peoples Day after the City Council voted unanimously Tuesday, Sept. 29, to formalize the observance.

Mayor David Holt, who has proclaimed the day annually since 2018, supported the resolution. He has proclaimed Indigenous Peoples Day annually since 2018. The new resolution makes the designation permanent regardless of who holds the office.

"Organizers of these events … would really like some certainty that is mayor-proof as they continue to plan," Holt said at the council meeting, as KOSU reported.

The designation is ceremonial. It does not create a city holiday or grant employees time off.

Sarah Adams, a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma who spent more than a decade pushing for the resolution, told the council the date's overlap with Columbus Day carries particular weight. She said it offers a chance to reflect on Indigenous history and celebrate how Indigenous communities are thriving, calling it "an opportunity to talk about sovereignty."

Kelli Mosteller, executive director and CEO of the First Americans Museum and a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, told the council the museum's annual Indigenous Peoples Day celebration is entering its fifth year. The event draws more than 3,000 visitors each year, Mosteller said.

Holt called the First Americans Museum celebration "arguably the largest in the country," according to The Oklahoman.

Oklahoma City's action follows the Tulsa City Council, which passed a resolution in 2017 recognizing "Native American Day" during the second week of October.

The 2026 Indigenous Peoples Day falls Monday, Oct. 12. The First Americans Museum, at 659 First Americans Blvd., will host a free celebration from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. under the theme "Sovereignty in Motion," featuring traditional dances, cuisine and family activities. Optional exhibition admission is discounted to $10 per person for ages four and up.

Culture Hub, an Indigenous community center in Oklahoma City, will hold an art opening that evening for "Collective Wisdom," a show featuring more than 30 Indigenous artists, from 6 to 9 p.m. with an artist panel at 7 p.m.

Red Earth FallFest at Scissortail Park on Saturday, Oct. 17, features a Native art market and a youth powwow.