GREAT FALLS Montana celebrated Indigenous Peoples Day with new significance this year as the state officially recognized the holiday for the first time in its history.

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Indigenous Peoples Day is observed in Montana on the second Monday of each October, in accordance with a bill that was signed into law by Governor Greg Gianforte earlier this year.

The milestone represents nearly a decade of advocacy by Native leaders and lawmakers who worked to ensure Indigenous communities' stories and contributions receive proper recognition and honor from the state.

"People can choose to celebrate this day how they want to, and a lot of our community choose to celebrate it as Indigenous Peoples Day. And it is empowering we kind of took our day back and it feels good," said Alisa Her

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