John,

Talking about my own heritage has never come naturally. 

My father, a Shoshone tribe member, died when I was only a year old. Growing up in the 60s and 70s in Utah wasn’t always easy, and I was told not to mention my heritage because of how difficult it made things for my mom. By 14 I had lost both of my parents, and it was then I learned the power of community when we come together to support and uplift one another.

There’s an ongoing national conversation about how we can justify celebrating some historical figures. One of those conversations is 500 years in the making.

As a city, we’ve made strides in removing painful symbols of subjugation and genocide from the public square, like the Early Days statue on Fell and the Columbus statue in North Beach. But this is only the first step towards healing and justice.

On this Indigenous Peoples’ Day we remind ourselves that where we stand is Ramaytush Ohlone land and we celebrate those who’ve called it home for thousands of years.

Best,