John,

Today is Indigenous Peoples’ Day – a day of both celebration and mourning in America.

Today we share, acknowledge, and celebrate the stories and contributions of Native Americans while grappling with the harmful reality of colonization, which is the crowning legacy of Christopher Columbus. 

It is part of our American history that Native people have been displaced from their ancestral lands, and their culture and religion repressed through many generations of forced assimilation. It is also part of our history that Native Americans were the original protectors of this land and the environment, and continue to be its most vocal advocates. It is part of our history that Native Americans serve this country in the United States Armed Forces at a higher rate than any other group, and are scholars, artists, doctors, activists and so much more. And it is part of our history that Native Americans have suffered from our government’s many broken promises and discriminatory policies, and have been denied access to many opportunities because of it.

Acknowledging our past fully is essential if we are going to move forward and change the future. In Vermont, we can and must do better to repair the harm that has been done by ensuring equitable access to resources, including land for Indigenous people who continue to call Vermont home. If elected as your next member of Congress, I will be committed to collaborating with Vermont’s Indigenous tribes to build an equitable and sustainable future for all of us.

We’re building a coalition that includes everyone – striving to give a voice to all Vermonters in Washington – including members of Indigenous tribes. I hope you’ll join me in taking some time out of your day to learn more, celebrate, and honor Indigenous people and their stories, contributions, and histories.

Thank you,

Becca Balint