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Happy Indigenous Peoples' Day, John! Today is a day meant for celebrating the strength, history, and resiliency of Indigenous Peoples all across North America, as well as honoring their contributions throughout history and standing in solidarity with those continuing to fight for their rights to this day. It is an opportunity for us to reflect on the multifaceted history that our Native American communities have had here in New Mexico, and to find ways to continue to honor Tribes. But you won’t find “Indigenous Peoples’ Day” on a calendar, because it’s still not recognized as a federal holiday. We’ve got to change that, and here in New Mexico, we already have. In 2019, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham officially declared the second Monday of October Indigenous Peoples’ Day, in which we celebrate the culture and traditions of New Mexico’s first citizens. Native American nations such as Zuni, Laguna, Acoma and Isleta Pueblos, as well as the Diné (Navajo Nation), the Mescalero Apache, Fort Sill Apache, and the Piro-Manso-Tiwa, among other New Mexico Tribal communities, enrich our district and contribute so much. While President Biden acknowledged Indigenous Peoples’ Day as a national holiday alongside Columbus Day this time last year, it still isn’t an official federal holiday — and it’s time we change that. My friend Senator Martin Heinrich has introduced a bill in the U.S. Senate to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day at the federal level, and I fully support it.
Renaming this holiday won’t undo the generations of oppression faced by Native American communities, but it will help us come together as a country to educate ourselves, honor the Indigenous Peoples who first called this land home, and empower today’s generation of Native Americans who make our country great. — Gabe
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