Indigenous People’s Day is a holiday that celebrates Native American peoples and honors their history and culture. In the past several years, many have decided to celebrate Indigenous People’s Day, and forgo the celebration of Columbus Day, in order to honor and acknowledge the history of Native Americans. EMU takes part in supporting the holiday to recognize the legacy of colonialism and to recognize the devastation and that Native American communities have suffered; the negative impacts colonization has brought, and how it still impacts indigenous people.
Jacqueline Font-Guzmán, executive director of diversity, equity, and inclusion, said, “The holiday also celebrates and honors, the past, present, and futures of Indigenous peoples in the United States.”
On Friday, Oct. 8, President Joe Biden became the first president to issue a proclamation to recognize Indigenous People’s Day as an official holiday as well as Columbus Day. However, people have been celebrating and recognizing Indigenous People’s Day as a holiday for quite some time.
In order to celebrate and acknowledge Indigenous People’s Day, EMU has come up with a series of events and celebrations that will take place from Oct. 11 to Oct. 26.
The celebration began with an Indigenous People’s Day convocation with “The Land is Not Empty: author and co-founder of the Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery Coalition Sarah Augustine on Monday, Oct., 11 in Lehman Auditorium, followed by a poetry reading with Tlingit poet and storyteller Ishmael Hope at 5:00 p.m. in Common Grounds. Events celebrating Indigenous People’s Day and commemorating their histories and cultures will continue until Oct. 26.
Font-Guzmán also said, “At EMU, we strive to go above and beyond advocating and celebrating Indigenous People’s Day. The mission of EMU is building relationships, educational partnerships, and learning from and honoring Indigenous Peoples’ voices in the EMU community in reparative and transformative ways.”
Although a lot of states have recognized Indigenous People’s Day as an important celebration, it is crucial to recognize that acknowledging this day is not enough for indigenous communities. The day acknowledges the wrongdoings and unfairness that explorers and colonizers inflicted on indigenous communities, but there is still much to be learned about the losses that indigenous people have suffered. Indigenous communities have suffered in the past and they have not only been mistreated by colonizers and explorers but also the modern American public, and government policy.. Even though a lot of progress has been made, not only by the nation, but also by EMU that has taken the time to learn, acknowledge, and educate staff and students about this day, there is still much to learn in order to bring real progress and equality for everyone.
