Happy Indigenous Peoples' Day, John!
For me, today is a day to reflect on the resistance and resilience of Indigenous people. The same resistance and resilience that has allowed me, a young Black Indigenous leader from the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin & Lac Courte Oreilles Band, to be where I am today.
Every Indigenous Peoples’ Day is a call to action for allies and co-conspirators to uplift the Indigenous community and shine a light on the crisis we live in daily. Here are three things you can do today to support indigenous causes and communities:
1. Be attentive to the language you use
Using language like “climbing the totem pole” or “let’s get together and powwow about that” is harmful because it disintegrates the significance of these symbols in Indigenous culture.
2. Join campaigns
Take action with Indigenous-led movements like the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women.
3. Donate
Support these Indigenous-led groups with a donation:
Advance Native Political Leadership
Center for Native American Youth
Illuminative
Native Organizers Alliance
Native Americans in Philanthropy
If you are privileged enough to have Indigenous Peoples’ Day as a day off, I encourage you to take some time today to learn more about Indigenous issues and take action. Read more on resistance and resilience of Indigenous people in the blog post I penned last year for Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
