Tempe employees will receive a paid holiday Oct. 9 following the city council’s decision to observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

The council voted unanimously this month in favor of the holiday,  and Tempe joined a growing list of cities, including Phoenix, to recognize it.

“I got choked up the moment that Mayor (Corey) Woods announced that this resolution passed 7-0,” said Councilmember Doreen Garlid, who also serves on the Local Indigenous Leaders committee for the National League of Cities.

“I am so thankful to our council and staff for creating and approving Indigenous Peoples’ Day as a city holiday.”

Indigenous Peoples’ Day honors “the rich cultural heritage, history and contributions of Native American and Indigenous communities,” a city release stated.

“By adopting Indigenous Peoples' Day, the City of Tempe is demonstrating its commitment to being a more inclusive and culturally diverse community.”

Garlid said following the Sept. 7 vote that “this is one more step that we have taken to show our commitment that Tempe’s Land Acknowledgement Resolution would be more than just words.” 

Tempe passed its Native American Land Acknowledgement Resolution unanimously in 2021.

Anthropological studies document large and advanced Ancestral O’Odham settlements located throughout the entirety of present-day Tempe, according to the release.

The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community and Gila River Indian Community neighbor Tempe to the northeast and south, respectively.