What's open, what's closed on Indigenous Peoples' Day

Many mark former 'Columbus Day' with holiday honoring Native residents

Posted Oct 9, 2022, 2:25 pm

TucsonSentinel.com

Michael Quinn/NPS Dan Akee, WWII veteran and Navajo code talker from the Diné Nation, speaks with members of the Dishchii' Bikoh' Apache group from Cibecue, Arizona.

Some state and federal government services and private businesses will be closed Monday, as Tucsonans mark the former "Columbus Day" with a holiday honoring Native residents.

The federal government and state of Arizona still commemorate Columbus Day, but President Joe Biden has for the last two years also proclaimed Indigenous Peoples' Day on the same date, the second Monday in October.

Indigenous Peoples Day has for years been pushed by those who say Columbus' legacy of genocide against the Native peoples of the Americas should not be celebrated.

"These efforts are a matter of dignity, justice, and good faith. But we have more to do to help lift Tribal communities from the shadow of our broken promises, to protect their right to vote, and to help them access other opportunities that their ancestors were long denied. On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we celebrate indigenous history and our new beginning together, honoring Native Americans for shaping the contours of this country since time immemorial," Biden said this year.

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey proclaimed Indigenous Peoples' Day in 2020, but skipped doing so last year. For 2022, he has also not proclaimed the holiday.

While both the city of Tucson and Pima County have halted formally observing Columbus Day, neither has a paid holiday for Indigenous People's Day — those local government offices will be open.

Post offices and most banks will be closed.
Pima County offices and courts will be open. The county dropped Columbus Day for a Black Friday holiday the day after Thanksgiving.
Tucson city offices and courts will be open.
Arizona state offices and courts will be closed.
Federal offices and courts will be closed.
Tucson Water offices will be open.
The Reid Park Zoo and city Parks and Recreation will be open.
Many schools are on fall break, while the University of Arizona and Pima Community College will be open.
The Motor Vehicle Division will be closed, while emissions testing stations will remain open.
Sun Tran buses will operate on a regular weekday schedule on Monday.
City and Waste Management trash collection will not be affected.
U.S. stock exchanges will be trading.