The Nome community will celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day with a special event on Monday, October 14 at the Nome Recreation Center. This is the third year that the Village of Solomon has taken the lead in organizing the festivities, now a collaboration with Kawerak, Bering Straits Native Corporation, and Norton Sound Health Corporation.
Deilah Johnson has been instrumental in organizing the event since 2022. While reflecting on the holiday’s shift away from the Columbus Day moniker, she said it empowers Indigenous people to celebrate who they are.
“Once they recognize us as a people, or give us a day within the calendar year and it's on public calendars that you buy at the store, we should be celebrating that because we've come a long way. We've had to continue fighting for a day to celebrate and take a day just to unite as a people in a community I think is super integral, rather than feeling like we're always maybe being let down or discouraged or whatever other challenge that we might be facing.”
- Deilah Johnson
The event will be emcee'd by Nick Hanson of American Ninja Warrior fame and will include traditional music, food, and a fashion show featuring Indigenous regalia. Johnson shared her excitement about showcasing cultural pride through clothing and performances, a dream she’s had since high school.
“I remember telling my best friend in high school, ‘I'm going to do that one day’. Obviously, indigenous peoples day is the perfect time to have a fashion show. So I love that,” Johnson said.
One of the event’s highlights will be a performance by the well-known Indigenous band Pamyua. The band is known for their blend of traditional Inuit music with contemporary sounds.
“Everyone loves Pamyua,” Johnson said. “When I mention they’re coming, people ask, ‘What time?’ Everyone gets really excited.”
Another highlight of the special day of celebration will be an appearance from D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, star of the FX show, Reservation Dogs. Woon-A-Tai will participate in the fashion show as well as take photos and sign autographs for fans.
The Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration will start at 2:00 p.m. and conclude at 8:00 p.m. Monday, October 14 at the Nome Recreation Center. All members of the Nome community are invited to attend and participate in the festivities.
