Thursday

Following a growing trend, the city council of Albuquerque, New Mexico has voted six to three to recognize October 12th – typically known to most as “Columbus Day” within the USA– as Indigenous Peoples’ day in a new proclamation.

Albuquerque has the highest concentration of Indigenous people in New Mexico.

In the past two months, eight cities got rid of Columbus Day in favor of adopting Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Three of those cities adopted Indigenous Peoples’ Day this week.

1- Albuquerque, New Mexico – The city’s formal declaration”encourages businesses, organizations and public entities to recognize Indigenous Peoples Day, which shall be used to reflect upon the ongoing struggles of Indigenous people on this land, and to celebrate the thriving culture and value that our Indigenous nations add to our City.”


2- Lawrence, KS – Since September, students from Haskell University in Lawrence, Kansas have been taking initiative and pushing for the city to honor their ancestors by declaring October 12th Indigenous Peoples’ day. Just this Wednesday, they won.

3- Portland, OR – Portland’s City Council declared Indigenous Peoples’ day on Tuesday, something tribal leaders have been seeking since 1954.

4- St. Paul, MN – In August, St. Paul followed Minneapolis by declaring Indigenous Peoples’ Day instead of Columbus Day. Minneapolis passed its own resolution last year.

5- Bexar County, TX – The resolution was passed Tuesday, and local activists intend to press for the same thing in San Antonio.


6- Anadarko, OK – In September, Anadarko declared Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Anadarko Mayor Kyle Eastwood signed the proclamation while surrounded by tribal leaders from the Apache, Choctaw, Delaware, Wichita and others.

7- Olympia, WA – Mayor Pro Tem Nathaniel Jones presented Olympia’s proclamation at a rally in August. Nearly 150 people showed up to support the initiative.

8- Alpena, MI – In September, Mayor Matt Waligora declared Indigenous Peoples’ Day. The city says they desire “to develop a strong and productive relationship with all indigenous peoples, including the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe, based on mutual respect and trust.”

These cities are following in the footsteps of Seattle and Minneapolis. Meanwhile, Oklahoma City came close to passing it in September and will try to pass it again on October 13th, the day after the holiday.

City Council Member Rey Garduño wrote and proposed the proclamation, with guidance from local activists. The campaign was initiated last year during an “Abolish Columbus Day” demonstration at City Hall.

Although these changes have been quite recent, the struggle for the recognition of Indigenous Peoples Day has been going on since 1954, when the idea was first proposed in Portland, OR.
Source


Responses to " 8 Cities Change "Columbus Day" To "Indigenous People's Day" "

  1. Unknown says:

    OK California, it's our turn. Step Up!

  2. Ok Georgia, its our turn, time to celebrate truth.

  3. Unknown says:

    NYC get with the program We are Here and we know the Truth.

  4. Getting to the truth! Making changes - YES!!!

  5. Marion Bowman says:

    HISTORY is no longer just HIS-STORY of it - YES - in the AGE of MATURATION for 5,000 years now, WE ... and it is GOOD :-) .

  6. Anonymous says:

    When will we as a Nation apologize by given American Natives this day, instead of the man who brought annihilation to their ancestors. Okay Florida get with the program in honor of my grandmother who was full blood Chippewa I thank you in advance.

  7. Unknown says:

    now i hope to see california follow this truth. for i am maidu and i belive that this truth needs to continue

  8. richdad says:

    I thank you, Christopher Columbus, for bringing European Civilization to the Americas. All the greek, roman and goth cultures, along with the spanish. It was not his fault that the english killed millions of natives. In the rest of America , there are plenty of natives living and thriving.

  9. Anonymous says:

    I am encouraged to see my Native friends are finally receiving the honor which has been been long overdue,
    Blessings to them and to thier ancestors,
    May they now also receive the respect that is due also!

  10. Anonymous says:

    @richdad - Your amazing lack of historic awareness is evident when you cite English genocide as somehow more significant than the Spanish conquistadors who pillaged most of the hemisphere south from what is now Colorado and California in their quest for gold.

  11. Anonymous says:

    My great grandmother's parents were each--half? Delaware/Lenni Lenape, so that makes me not even fifth generation, but it's important to me. They were, however, victim to the idea that they needed to be ashamed of their culture the way that other people who come to the US from other countries were made to be "Americanized", before there was more encouragement to actually celebrate diversity. So I don't have a lot of records or mementos.

    This right here is a good thing, and I'm so happy that people are becoming increasingly aware.

  12. Anonymous says:

    I am only a tiny percentage of Native American but I have been waiting for this movement a long time

  13. Anonymous says:

    Come on Colorado and Nebraska.. get with the program!!

  14. Compromise. Indigenous People and Jimmy Durante Day

  15. Unknown says:

    I am Lakota blood, was taken away from parents as a baby n raised by white man, never told truth until both parents dead, have no way of finding true parents, I'm 61 moons old now, but wish to be with my brothers n sisters at Standing Rock for that is where my bloodlines are!

  16. Unknown says:

    Get with it...The DMV (District of Columbia, Maryland & Virginia) area...stand up!

  17. Unknown says:

    indigenous is too big a word they should call it Native America Day that would take care of the discovery of this country by Columbus and gives acknowledge to the People who were here to greet him

  18. Our little city of Belfast, Maine made the change last December, first community east of the Mississippi to do so.

  19. Unknown says:

    It needs to be done on a National level..people think that change brings about racial devide.. but I think ppl of all races welcome righting the wrongs of the past so we can all move forward together...as one United Country

  20. Anonymous says:

    What a bunch of crap! It is and always will be Columbus Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  21. Unknown says:

    Here is a more recent article, indicating as many as 25 cities have declared a "Indigenous Peoples Day"
    http://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/arizona-news/209888329-story

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