John,
Today is Indigenous Peoples' Day and we are proud to be taking the time and space today to remember and celebrate American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians throughout the country.
Long before the image of the United States was formed, Indigenous peoples have remained resilient, innovative, and invaluable. They endured a long history of violence and discrimination at the hands of our government. And for too long in the modern era, Indigenous communities and populations have remained undervalued, underserved, and underrepresented in our government and social and economic systems.
While there have been many movements and efforts created to uplift and amplify the calls for change in Indigenous communities, we still maintain the same decades-old federal policies that continue to disenfranchise and displace Indigenous populations and their culture.
It is of critical importance that we never forget the centuries-long campaign of violence, displacement, assimilation, and terror brought upon these communities. All of us, from the grassroots to the highest level of our government, have a moral obligation to invest in and support the future of Indigenous people. This work begins by calling for a shift of our country’s priorities towards ones that value, empower, and support all communities of all races, religions, and backgrounds.
We need to prioritize the repatriation and restoration of our neighboring Indigenous communities. And we need to be impactful in the fight for climate action and protection of natural resources, and end the economic profit-to-pollution pipeline for the health of our shared nation.
Today, and every day moving forward, we must reaffirm our commitment to uplifting, investing in, and celebrating Indigenous people and the cultures that make up our beautiful country.
In solidarity,
Bowman for Congress
