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President Joe Biden was the first U.S. leader to proclaim the holiday, just two years ago. But the celebration began in Berkeley, California, in 1992 as part of the 500th anniversary of when Cristopher Columbus arrived in the hemisphere.
The day recognizes the “resilience” and “diversity” of Indigenous people in the United States.
Did you know that the word “America” used to describe Indigenous people?
In the 1590s an “American” was defined as pertaining to the Western Hemisphere and its original inhabitants. It wasn’t until the 1740s that the word was expanded to include all residents of the “Americas.”
In 1992, a group of more than one hundred Indigenous elders and scholars met at Taos Pueblo and drafted a vision about the next 500 years.
The co-chairs of the conference were Suzan Shown Harjo and Oren Lyons.
Some of the words:
“We, the Indigenous Peoples of this red quarter of Mother Earth, have survived 500 years of genocide, ethnocide, ecocide, racism, oppression, colonization and christianization. These excesses of western civilization resulted from contempt for Mother Earth and all our relations; contempt for women, elders, children and Native Peoples; and contempt for a future beyond the present human generation. Despite this, we are here.”
We are still here.
Native Peoples over the next 500 years must maintain our status as distinct political and cultural communities. Indian Nations expect the world community to honor and enforce treaties that recognize tribal property and sovereignty. Sovereignty is the inherent right of Indian Nations to govern all actions within their own countries based upon traditional systems and laws that arise from the People themselves. Sovereignty includes the right of Native Nations to freely live and develop socially, economically, culturally, spiritually and politically.
The document called for sovereignty and the right to culture, territory, and wealth.
It also made a generational promise … “a bond with all the world’s Peoples who understand their relationship and responsibility to all aspects of the Creation. … and a future of global friendship and the integrity of diverse cultures.”
We look forward to a future of global friendship and the integrity of diverse cultures.
“Our Visions” was a historic gathering of 100 Native writers, artists and wisdom keepers at Taos Pueblo, Co-Chaired by Suzan Shown Harjo and Oren Lyons, and sponsored by The Morning Star Institute and The 1992 Alliance.
That promise included the “coming generation of Native people,” something that we celebrate today.
Around the world Indigenous people are celebrated. In Canada, Indigenous People’s day is always marked by the summer solstice. And in much of the world, Indigenous Peoples Day is August 9th … the day set aside by the United Nations.
Help ICT make strides in 2024. Our goal is to raise $150,000 by the end of the year with generous contributions from funding partners and collaborators like you. We’re thankful for your support, and we’re thriving because of it. DONATE TODAY!
Today’s newscast was created with work from:
Shirley Sneve, Ponca/Sicangu Lakota, is vice president of broadcasting for the ICT Newscast. Follow her on Twitter @rosebudshirley. She is based in Nebraska and Minnesota.
Aliyah Chavez, Kewa Pueblo, is the anchor of the ICT Newscast. On Twitter: @aliyahjchavez.
Paris Wise, Zia and Laguna Pueblo, is a producer for the ICT Newscast. Email: paris@ictnews.org.
Stewart Huntington is a producer for the ICT Newscast.
Quindrea Yazzie, Diné, is a video production editor for the ICT Newscast. Email: qyazzie@ictnews.org . Yazzie is based in Phoenix.
Daniel Herrera Carbajal is a video editor for the ICT Newscast. On Twitter: @daniulherrrera
Pauly Denetclaw, Diné, is a political correspondent for ICT. Email her at pauly@ictnews.org
Pacey Smith-Garcia, Ute, is a production assistant for the ICT Newscast. On Twitter: @paceyjournalist.
Nick Parks is a Production Assistant for the ICT Newscast.On Twitter: @NickParks2002
Jack Orleans is an Intern for the ICT Newscast. On Twitter @JackOrleans5
Demi Dupavillon is an Intern for the ICT Newscast. On Twitter @DemiDupavillon
Mark Trahant, Shoshone-Bannock, is ICT editor-at-large and Executive Producer of the ICT Newscast Email: marktrahant@ictnews.org
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