The Albuquerque Urban Native community Celebrates Indigenous Peoples Day October 13, 2025 - 11:00 am to 2:00 pm -- in Tiquex Park
Albuquerque, NM – Oct. 6, 2025 - The fifth annual Indigenous Peoples Day, sponsored and organized by the Native Leadership Collective of Albuquerque (NLC), brings an opportunity to promote civic engagement in the urban Native American community and highlight the social and cultural assets we contribute to the well-being, resilience, and vibrancy of the Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Metro area.
The event is free and open to the public. All are welcome. It will take place on Monday,
October 13, 2025 – from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm – at Tiquex Park, near Old Town in Albuquerque.
New activities for this year’s celebration include a Native food sovereignty market and Native art vendors. The southern drum group Shield Chief will be a featured performance group. Past events have featured crowds of people enjoying themselves, 20 plus community organizations on hand, live music, activities for kids and Native food vendors.
“Indigenous Peoples Day is a time to honor the original stewards of this land and to celebrate the strength, culture, and contributions of Native families in Albuquerque and beyond,” says Darius Smith (Diné), Chair of the NLC. “We encourage all families to come out and enjoy an event that is uniquely New Mexican.”
Organizers have also expanded sponsorship outreach to include local non-profits and businesses who Native Americans in Albuquerque turn to for information and services, including our Media Sponsor, New Mexico PBS.
“New Mexico PBS is proud to be a media sponsor of this special Indigenous People’s Day event,” said Franz Joachim, GM & CEO, NMPBS. “For over 35 years, NMPBS has spotlighted the diverse cultures, arts, history, music, and talents of New Mexico’s Tribal people in the COLORES! series, and through the years in many stand-alone special programs. NMPBS enjoys working with New Mexico communities and hopes that everyone has fun at this wonderful event!”
Other sponsors include: PNM. Sandia Resort and Casino, Isleta Resort and Casino, Exhibit Solutions, Equality New Mexico Foundation, Omega Phi Fraternity, One Generation Native Youth program, Zia Networks, Story Riders, National Urban Indian Family Coalition, Albuquerque Isotopes, City of Albuquerque Office of Equity and Inclusion, and more.
Darius Smith (Diné) is the current Chair of the NLC, and Americans for Indian Opportunity serves as the fiscal agent and staff for the Native Leadership Collective of Albuquerque.
"The fifth annual Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration is a direct result of incredible support from our community partners, leaders, and Native entrepreneurs,” said Laura Harris (Comanche) Executive Director of Americans for Indian Opportunity. “These partnerships allow us to highlight the economic, social, and cultural assets we contribute to the city. Their commitment reflects a shared vision of equity and cultural pride, demonstrating how our collective civic engagement and Native American community self-determination is forging a stronger Albuquerque for all.
The Native Leadership Collective of Albuquerque (NLC), made up of Executive Directors and Owners of 37 Native-led nonprofit organizations and Indian-owned businesses, represent our collective constituencies to inform and hold accountable institutions and governments regarding the local urban Native American community.
Americans for Indian Opportunity (AIO) advances the rights of Native peoples as we affirm and sustain our Indigenous cultural identities through Indigenous values-based leadership development, transformative community organizing, hosting collaborative action networks, and sharing Indigenous worldviews and positive contemporary Indigenous narratives. AIO is a national community-driven nonprofit organization with international relationships headquartered in Albuquerque, NM. AIO is directly accountable to the communities we partner with, the leaders we support, and our board of directors who represent their Indigenous constituencies.
