Happy Indigenous Peoples Day!! Please reconsider what you were taught about the “Discovery of America”
To date, 14 states— Alabama, Alaska, Hawai'i, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wisconsin—and the District of Columbia, more than 130 cities, and growing numbers of school districts celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day in place of or in addition to Columbus Day. And many people reach out to the National Museum of the American Indian to ask about appropriate ways to honor the Native peoples of the Americas. Here are my top five suggestions for engaging with the spirit of Indigenous Peoples’ Day during this unusual year.
1) Learn About Indigenous Cultures
Celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day by attending community celebrations, whether in-person or online, organized by Native people. Listen to Native organizers to learn about the food or music that makes these celebrations so great, and the role they play in the culture you’re observing. Indigenous Peoples Day is also a good time to learn about the tribes that live or lived where you live now. Native-land.ca is a web app that helps direct you to more resources about different Indigenous cultures and territories all over the world.
2) Donate To Indigenous Rights Organizations
Opening your wallet to support groups fighting for Indigenous rights is a great way to celebrate Indigenous People’s Day. Directly supporting their missions with donations allows organizations to allocate resources wherever they’re needed most. Consider donating to the Bears Ears Intertribal Coalition, a group made up of five nations who are in a battle to preserve Bears Ears National Monument in Utah, which is being threatened by the Trump administration. Or you could support Seeding Sovereignty, an Indigenous-led collective that advocates for climate justice, informed by Indigenous practices, which has been putting its efforts behind a mutual aid program during the COVID-19 pandemic.
3) Attend Vigils, Rallies, Or Marches Organized By Native People
After a summer of near non-stop rallies for racial justice, keep up that momentum for Indigenous-led organizations in your area. Check out what actions might be taking place locally, either online or in-person, and see what kind of solidarity is welcomed or needed. Respect organizers’ wishes for who attends, speaks, or presents at these events, too
4) Support Native Artisans
Another way to open your wallet is to support Native American artists and artisans by buying their work — then proudly displaying it. Etsy is one place to connect with sellers who are indigenous, and you can also look to local artist collectives near you to see what people are making.
5) Don’t Just Celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day — Actively Disavow Columbus Day
That's right — it's time to have an uncomfortable conversation with your aunt about her Facebook posts. (No one's trying to "rewrite American history," Karen.) Sign petitions if your city or state has yet to recognize Indigenous Peoples Day, and don’t hesitate to talk to other non-Indigenous people about the history and legacy behind Columbus Day — and why it means we should be celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day instead.
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