Dear John,

Indigenous Peoples' Day is an opportunity to celebrate and honor Indigenous communities and to commemorate their histories and cultures. It is also a day to acknowledge the injustices and brutality brought upon these communities and to forge a just and equitable path forward by correcting historical misinformation and dismantling oppressive systems.

The effects of centuries of oppression are evident today:

*A quarter of American Indians and Alaska Natives live in poverty and experience extreme inequities in employment and housing.

*Many Indigenous nations are still working to access their traditional lands, rights, and privileges for first foods, and to reclaim their languages, traditional ceremonies, and spiritual practices.

*Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities face a higher and disproportionate degree of the consequences brought about by the climate crisis.

*The COVID-19 pandemic poses a grave health threat to Indigenous peoples around the world. These communities already experience less access to healthcare and essential services, sanitation, and other key preventive measures.

*Voter suppression disproportionately impacts communities of color, including the nearly six million people who identify as American Indian or Alaska Natives.

It's long past time to acknowledge our whitewashed history and to work toward including and listening to Indigenous voices to ensure equity.

Courage,

Earl

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