Cherry Pop Events

Every October, as many Americans pause to celebrate Columbus Day, there is growing recognition that the narrative we’ve been taught is deeply incomplete—and, for many, deeply painful. That’s why Indigenous Peoples’ Day is increasingly replacing it: to honor the original stewards of this land, to acknowledge the harms of colonialism, and to celebrate living Indigenous communities and cultures that continue to thrive today.

The Importance of Celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Indigenous Peoples’ Day is not just symbolic. It sends a message: that we see you, we acknowledge your history, and we commit to a more truthful future. As one Indigenous advocate put it, “To honor a people empowers them. To honor restores identity. To honor means to tell the authentic story of Native America.” (Native Hope Blog)

Recognizing this day gives space for education, healing, and cultural restoration. It challenges erasure, combats harmful myths, and invites dialogue. Observed in place of—or alongside Columbus Day—it is a statement that we will no longer celebrate conquest, but resilience. (AP News)

By lifting up Indigenous voices, we help create a cultural climate in which descendants of settler colonialism reckon more honestly with our past—and Indigenous communities are affirmed in their dignity and sovereignty.

A More Accurate History: Columbus & the Cost of “Discovery”

Christopher Columbus is often taught as the explorer who “discovered” America in 1492. But that framing erases what was—and is—already there. Indigenous peoples had long inhabited and cared for these lands for millennia. (National Museum of the American Indian)

Columbus’s arrival initiated a cascade of violence, displacement, and disease. Historical records suggest that he and his men enslaved Indigenous people, carried out brutal punitive practices, and commandeered land and resources. (HISTORY)

His journals also expose his view of Indigenous peoples through a colonial lens, remarking how they were “destitute of arms” and “timid” in contrast to European powers. (Gilder Lehrman Institute)

The arrival of Europeans did more than mark a new historical chapter—it fundamentally altered Indigenous lives, social structures, sovereignty, and culture. Many nations across the Western Hemisphere were transformed through forced removal, warfare, broken treaties, and systemic oppression. (study.com)

Reclaiming October as Indigenous Peoples’ Day is part of undoing the mythology of “discovery” and restoring presence, dignity, and truth to those whose lives were disrupted and whose cultures endured.

The Impact of Celebration—Especially for Indigenous Communities

When Indigenous Peoples’ Day is recognized publicly—via state proclamations, municipal support, educational curricula, and cultural events—it validates Indigenous identities and stories. It says that their stories matter, that their losses are acknowledged, and that their continuation is supported. (psesd.org)

Such recognition helps shift public memory, supports Indigenous-led cultural revitalization, and encourages non-Indigenous communities to deepen empathy and awareness. It offers a platform to discuss ongoing challenges—land justice, treaty rights, cultural survival, and equitable representation.

How Cherry Pop Events Honors Indigenous Peoples in Our Work

At Cherry Pop Events, we believe that honoring truth and dignity isn’t optional—it’s integral. Here’s how we strive to incorporate this respect into our weddings and events:

• Site & Land Acknowledgments: Where appropriate and respectful, we begin events by acknowledging the Indigenous nations whose land we are on, with care and in consultation with local Indigenous communities when possible.
• Elevating Indigenous Suppliers & Artists: We actively seek out Indigenous-owned florists, artists, musicians, and cultural contributors to offer space for them to share their gifts in visibility and collaboration.
• Cultural Respect & Sensitivity: We work to ensure cultural elements (if used) are incorporated with permission, consultation, and respect rather than tokenism or misappropriation.
• Educational Inclusion: In our clients’ event materials—programs, signage, welcome messages—we may include brief educational acknowledgments or historical notes, when appropriate, to invite guests to awareness and reflection.
• Ongoing Learning: We commit to ongoing cultural competency, learning from Indigenous voices, and adapting our practices as we grow.

We know these steps are small. They do not erase centuries of harm. But in our corner of the world—weddings, celebrations, gatherings—we choose to stand on the side of truth, respect, and justice.

A Final Thought

Indigenous Peoples’ Day is more than a calendar entry. It’s a call to reckon, to respect, and to celebrate. It reminds us that the stories we tell matter—and that honoring those stories is a form of healing. In recognizing this day, we stand with Indigenous communities, affirming that their past, present, and future are deeply woven into the fabric of this country.

In our work, Cherry Pop Events will continue to show up, listen, acknowledge, and create space. We celebrate love, but not shallowly—we believe all love and all people deserve dignity, respect, and truth.

If you plan to write, share, or host events in tribute to Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we stand ready to help you do so thoughtfully, inclusively, and beautifully.