UAF celebrates Indigenous Peoples Day

Students and staff at UAF engaged in various events to celebrate.
Published: Oct. 10, 2022 at 6:06 PM AKDT
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FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) -Across the nation, people were celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day on Monday. The holiday, which falls on the second Monday of October, honors indigenous people across North America.

On October 10th, students and staff at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) engaged in various events to celebrate. Some of the activities included a virtual film screening for a movie produced by the University’s Alaska Native Language Center, a fry-bread taco fundraiser for the Festival of Native Arts Club, and a beading workshop put on by the the Nanook Diversity and Action Center.

For those participating in the cultural events, like Lou Yur’acung’ Frenzl, an Alaska Native who is also a student at UAF, this day is where the past, present and future is honored. ”Indigenous Peoples Day is really our big opportunity to make a big deal celebrating and honoring all indigenous peoples,” she said. “Locally we are celebrating Alaska Native peoples. We’re here on the Troth Yeddha Campus and we’ve got lots going on that really centers our place as students and staff.”

The holiday is also recognized as Columbus Day in various parts of the country. The State of Alaska was the second state government to change the observance to Indigenous Peoples Day after former Governor Bill Walker signed a declaration in 2015.