Presidential Documents

Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 201 / Thursday, October 17, 2024 / Presidential Documents 83605 

Proclamation 10839 of October 11, 2024 

Indigenous Peoples’ Day, 2024 

By the President of the United States of America 

A Proclamation 

On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we honor Indigenous peoples’ strength, courage, 

and resilience. We celebrate the vast contributions of Indigenous communities 

to the world. And we recommit to respecting Tribal sovereignty and selfdetermination and working to usher in a new era of our Nation-to-Nation 

relationships. 

The history of America’s Indigenous peoples is marked by perseverance, 

survival, and a deep commitment to and pride in their heritage, right to 

self-governance, and ways of life. Since time immemorial, Indigenous peoples 

have built and sustained powerful Tribal Nations, cultivated rich cultures, 

and established vibrant communities. And their discoveries and knowledge 

still benefit us today. But because of our Nation’s failed policies of the 

past, generations of Native peoples have faced cruelty, violence, and intimidation. They were forced to leave their homelands, prohibited from speaking 

their own languages and practicing their sacred traditions, and forced into 

assimilation. Indigenous lives were lost, livelihoods were ripped away, and 

communities were fundamentally altered. Despite the trauma and turmoil, 

Indigenous peoples have persisted and survived. Their stories are testaments 

to the bravery and resolve of generations to preserve their heritage, cultures, 

and identities for those to come after them. 

Today, Indigenous peoples lead in every way, share their histories, and 

strengthen their communities. They are also stewarding lands and waters, 

growing our shared prosperity, and celebrating the good of our Nation while 

pushing us to tell the full truth of our history. Indigenous peoples have 

long served in the United States military, fighting for democracy. And Indigenous communities continue to be an integral part of the fabric of the United 

States, contributing so much to our shared prosperity. 

I remain committed to writing a new and better chapter in our history. 

To make this new era of self-determination a reality, we must honor the 

solemn promises the United States made to fulfill our trust and treaty 

obligations to Tribal Nations and work together to rebuild Tribal economies 

and institutions. 

From day one, I have worked to include Indigenous voices at the table 

in all we do. I have appointed Native Americans to lead across the Federal 

Government, including the Secretary of the Interior, Deb Haaland—America’s 

first Native American Cabinet secretary—and so many others serving in 

key roles in my Administration. I was proud to re-establish the White 

House Council on Native American Affairs to help coordinate policy. Together, we have taken historic steps to improve the consultation process 

between Federal agencies and Tribal Nations. 

I also believe that Tribal Nations know best what is right for their communities, and they do better when they make their own decisions. That is 

why I signed an Executive Order to respect the Nation-to-Nation relationship 

by ensuring Federal agencies respect the autonomy of tribes, cutting red 

tape so Tribal leaders can deliver for their communities. At the same time, 

we are strengthening the Buy Indian Act so that Federal agencies get more 

goods and services from Native-owned businesses. These initiatives will 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with PRESDOC-D2
83606 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 201 / Thursday, October 17, 2024 / Presidential Documents 

help grow Tribal economies while respecting Tribal sovereignty and Tribal 

Nations’ right to build a future on their own terms. 

Since I came into office, the Federal Government has made record investments in Tribal Nations. My American Rescue Plan—the largest direct Federal 

investment in Tribal Nations ever—helped provide COVID–19 vaccinations 

to Tribal communities and got our economy going again. My Bipartisan 

Infrastructure Law is the single biggest investment in Tribal roads, bridges, 

water, high-speed internet, electricity, irrigation, environmental cleanup, and 

more. My Inflation Reduction Act is the biggest investment in fighting climate 

change ever, anywhere in the history of the world. It is helping Tribal 

communities lead in the transition to clean energy and mitigate the impact 

of droughts, wildfires, and rising sea levels that threaten Native lives and 

precious homelands. My Administration has also provided increased resources to fight the opioid epidemic and expand access to crisis care in 

Tribal communities. Given that Native American women are two times more 

likely to die of pregnancy-related causes than White women, my Administration has taken significant steps to improve maternal health. And my Administration also secured the first-ever advance funding for the Indian Health 

Service so hospitals can plan ahead, order supplies, and hire doctors. 

When my Administration reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act 

in 2022, we included historic provisions to reaffirm Tribal sovereignty and 

expand Tribal jurisdiction in cases where outside perpetrators harm members 

of their Nation. And recognizing the ties of Indigenous peoples across North 

America, I supported a Trilateral Working Group with Canada and Mexico 

to ensure Indigenous women and girls in all three countries can live free 

from violence. 

My Administration is also preserving important ancestral Tribal lands and 

waters. I have protected and conserved more than 42 million acres of our 

Nation’s lands and waters. I established, expanded, or restored 11 national 

monuments—including Bears Ears National Monument, Grand StaircaseEscalante National Monument, Avi Kwa Ame National Monument, Baaj 

Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni-Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National 

Monument, Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, and others containing sites considered sacred to Tribal Nations. We are advancing the 

proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary, which stretches 

along 116 miles of California coastline and has been home to coastal, oceangoing Tribal Nations and Indigenous peoples for tens of thousands of years. 

My Administration has also signed over 190 co-stewardship or co-management agreements with Tribes, and we are working to sign more. 

On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we recognize that it is hard work to heal 

the wrongs of the past and to change course and move forward, but together, 

nothing is beyond our capacity. May we take pride in the progress we 

have made to establish a new era of Tribal sovereignty and Indigenous 

self-determination—one grounded in dignity, respect, and friendship. 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States 

of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution 

and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 14, 2024, 

as Indigenous Peoples’ Day. I call upon the people of the United States 

to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities. I also direct 

that the flag of the United States be displayed on all public buildings 

on the appointed day in honor of our diverse history and the Indigenous 

peoples who contribute to shaping this Nation. 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with PRESDOC-D2
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 201 / Thursday, October 17, 2024 / Presidential Documents 83607 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eleventh day 

of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four, and of the 

Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fortyninth. 

[FR Doc. 2024–24150 

Filed 10–16–24; 8:45 am] 

Billing code 3395–F4–P 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with PRESDOC-D2BIDEN.EPS</GPH>