Territory Day is observed in Wallis and Futuna every July 29, celebrating the islands' designation as a French overseas territory in 1961. Located in the South Pacific, Wallis and Futuna was originally settled by Polynesians, with the first European visitors being the Dutch and British, followed by French missionaries in 1837. The islands were placed under a French protectorate in 1887-88 after treaties were signed by local kings, and they became a separate colony in 1917. A referendum in 1959 led the inhabitants to vote for independence from New Caledonia, culminating in the official creation of the Territory of Wallis and Futuna on July 29, 1961. Territory Day is one of the major celebrations in the region, alongside Saint Pierre Chanel Day and Bastille Day.