Olympia marks Indigenous Peoples Day with free celebration at Squaxin Park Monday

The Olympia City Council has approved a proclamation naming Monday, Oct. 12, 2026, Indigenous Peoples Day. The city and the Squaxin Island Tribe will mark the day with a free public celebration at Squaxin Park.

The proclamation recognizes the history, culture and ongoing contributions of Indigenous people in Olympia. It specifically acknowledges the Steh-Chass people of the Squaxin Island Tribe for continuing to care for their ancestral lands and waters, including the Deschutes watershed and Budd Inlet. It also names contributions from the Nisqually, Puyallup, Chehalis, Suquamish, Duwamish and other Indigenous nations, according to The JOLT News.

The celebration: Monday, Oct. 12, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Squaxin Park. Tribal members will dance, sing, speak and share stories. Olivia Salazar de Breaux, the city's Cultural and Belonging Manager, said the program centers on the Squaxin Island Tribe and its members. She described it as a chance for people to learn more about Indigenous history and the relationship between Olympia and the tribe.

Getting there: Parking at Squaxin Park is limited. Starting at 11 a.m., the city will run a free shuttle every 30 minutes from the Olympia Farmers Market parking area. Organizers are also asking people to take transit, walk, bike or carpool.

For Johnson Point and northeast Olympia residents, the Farmers Market shuttle is probably the easiest option. Plan for some extra time downtown, since it's a holiday Monday.