Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration in Berkeley Saturday

Berkeley's 21st annual Indigenous Peoples Day celebration will bring tribal dancing and drumming and an "Indian Market" with Native American foods and crafts to Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park Saturday, Oct. 5

A schedule of activities for the free event, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., can be found on the event website. 

Among the highlights are contest dancing, exhibition dancing and raffles as well as the Indian Market.

"All traditional drums are invited," the website says.

The celebration is co-sponsored by the Indigenous Peoples Day Committee and the City of Berkeley.

A City Council resolution adopted Sept. 17 declared Oct. 5 as Indigenous Peoples Day and said the city "does hereby offer our gratitude to Native People on behalf of the people of Berkeley, in recognition of the Indigenous care for this land, and in honor of Indigenous culture and philosophy, which are needed now more than ever if the planet is to survive; and we urge all Berkeleyans to attend the Berkeley Indigenous Peoples Day Pow Wow and Indian Market, on Saturday October 5, 2013 from 10 am to 6 pm in Martin Luther King Civic Center Park."

The council proclamation gives Berkeley two Indigenous Peoples Days this year. The city also observes a city weekday holiday as Indigenous Peoples Day in lieu of Columbus Day. That holiday falls on Monday, Oct. 14, this year.

The Berkeley Unified School District does not observe Oct. 14 as a holiday but has scheduled it as a staff development day, when students do not have to attend school.

Those who wish more information about the Indigenous Peoples Day celebration Saturday can call 510-595-5525.

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