A Ballet Folklorico dancer smiles during a performance with her group at the 2025 Indigenous Peoples' Day celebration on Monday, Oct. 13. The day was first celebrated in Oregon in 2021, honoring the history of the Indigenous peoples of the Americas. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)
Hundreds of people celebrated Indigenous Peoples’ Day with dance, music, food and art in front of the Oregon State Capitol on Monday.
Indigenous Peoples’ Day is a state holiday observed Oct. 13. The day was first celebrated in Oregon in 2021, and was previously recognized federally by President Joe Biden that same year.
It was celebrated Monday in State Capitol Mall, just outside the capitol building. The audience fluctuated throughout the day, with people stopping by to enjoy food and performances, and hear from Indigenous speakers and community leaders.
Linda Meanus, a Warm Springs elder and author, addressed the crowd early in the afternoon. She shared personal stories and accounts from her book ‘My Name Is LaMoosh,’ an autobiography about her life growing up near Celilo Falls.
While performances and speeches continued on stage, a group of volunteers diced potatoes, squash, tomatoes and zucchini for the community dinner of stew and fry bread.
Jay Bear Cavazos, a volunteer, cuts squash for the community dinner during the Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration at the State Capitol Mall. Cavazos is a chef of over 30 years, currently working as a kitchen manager at an Albany restaurant. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)Yissel López, an Indigenous mariachi singer from Salem, performs at the 2025 Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration at the State Capitol Mall. López performed some songs written by her mother, who sat in the crowd proudly recording López with her phone. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)A crowd gathers to watch Sherrie Davis Morningstar play flute during the 2025 Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration at the State Capitol Mall. The weather was sunny with frequent gusts of wind, prompting most visitors to don outerwear. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)Ceremonial bundles of sage, cinnamon and other herbs are sold by a vendor, “Tlanextli,” during the 2025 Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration. The owner, Carmen Garnica, from Portland, burned herbs in a chalice throughout the day, filling the air with the pleasant, earthy aroma. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)Ballet Folklorico dancers raise baskets during a their performance at the 2025 Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration outside the state capitol on Monday, Oct. 13. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)A volunteer pours potatoes into a dish for the community dinner prepared during the 2025 Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration. The dinner was a homemade stew and fry bread, prepared by volunteers during the celebration. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)Linda Meanus, an elder and author from the Warm Springs Tribe, reads an excerpt from her book, ‘My Name Is LaMoosh,’ to the audience at the 2025 Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration in the State Capitol Mall. As told in her book, Meanus spoke of her upbringing near Celilo Falls, and the cultural significance of the environment, especially salmon. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)A Ballet Folklorico dancer waves a scarf in the air during a traditional dance at the 2025 Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)Squash, tomatoes and other produce are ready to be whipped up for the community dinner at the 2025 Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration. The food was donated by local farms and organizations for the occasion. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)Sherrie Davis Morningstar plays flute for a crowd during the 2025 Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)Dishes filled with potatoes are set aside for the community dinner prepared during the Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration at the State Capitol Mall. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)
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Hailey Cook joined Salem Reporter in 2025, following the completion of an internship through the University of Oregon’s Charles Snowden Program for Excellence in Journalism. She works as a reporter and photojournalist, with a focus on business and entertainment, among other topics.
