White House Ruin at Canyon de Chelly National Monument in Arizona

A landscape of living history. Indigenous Peoples' Day

Indigenous Peoples' Day honors the histories, cultures, and enduring contributions of Indigenous peoples across the United States. Observed by many communities on the second Monday in October, the day also invites reflection on the hardships Native peoples have faced and celebrates the resilience of Tribal Nations, whose languages, traditions, and knowledge continue to shape the country today.

That living heritage is reflected in today's image of the White House Ruin at Canyon de Chelly National Monument in northeastern Arizona. The cliff dwelling was built and occupied by Ancestral Puebloans between about 1060 and 1275, beneath the shelter of a towering sandstone alcove. Yet Canyon de Chelly is far more than an archaeological site. People have lived in these canyons for nearly 5,000 years, and Navajo (Diné) families still reside, farm, and raise livestock there.

The monument is located entirely within the Navajo Nation and is managed in partnership with the National Park Service. It connects generations of Indigenous history in one continuously inhabited landscape.