Today we celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day 

Boozhoo John,

Today is a special day for Native people in this country. It is now recognized as our day and we invite all people to join us as we celebrate and honor the many beautiful and different Indigenous people and nations.

In 2021, Pres. Biden declared Indigenous Peoples’ Day an official federal holiday – a historic moment. This announcement is significant because our people have been used to being invisible. In a past election, I remember news services were reporting on voter turnout among different ethnicities of voters and Indigenous people weren’t even listed. Instead they listed us as “something else.”

But the tides are changing and today is our day.

A few years ago, I was on my way to a training and about to board my flight when my grandmother called me to wish me a happy Indigenous Peoples’ Day. I remember her saying, “I can’t believe we actually get our own day, I never thought I’d live to see that we got a day.” I’ll always cherish that conversation. She was really happy and excited about Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

To me, Indigenous Peoples’ Day is a time of reflection. How can we be good relatives? We must take care of Mother Earth and ensure we have clean air and clean drinking water so we are leaving this land healthy for future generations. Before Christopher Columbus came to our lands, we relied heavily on our traditional practices to be stewards of the earth.

This day is also an opportunity to consider how far we’ve come. I see tribal colleges teaching our Indigenous ways and values, such as food sovereignty and language revitalization. I see our cultures and languages stronger than they have been in a long time.

So today, join me in celebrating where we are today and commit to building a better future for our children.

Use your voice to vote on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Vote for Mother Earth, vote for our ancestors, and vote for the seventh generation.

VOTING INFO [[link removed]]

Miigwech for voting,
Maria Haskins
Lac Courte Oreilles-Ojibwe
Native Vote Manager
Wisconsin Conservation Voices

P.S. On Tuesday, Nov. 5 you can vote for presidential, congressional, state offices, and a constitutional amendment. We urge you to vote NO on the constitutional amendment.

Find your polling place here [[link removed]] and look up what’s on your ballot before you go to the polls here [[link removed]].

When you vote, you will need a valid photo ID. You can use a tribal ID, Wisconsin driver’s license, or state ID. Other options for photo IDs can be found here [[link removed]].

If you have not yet registered to vote, you can register in-person when you vote. Simply bring a proof of residence document with your current address on it, such as a driver’s license, letter from your tribal government, a paycheck stub or other options here [[link removed]].

If you have any questions about voting, don’t hesitate to contact our Native Vote team.

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Wisconsin Conservation Voices
133 S. Butler Street Suite 320
Madison, WI 53703
United States
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