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Social Justice Team: Indigenous People's Day email

Indigenous People's Day email sent 10/14/19

Dear Campus Library Colleagues,

Today, October 14, marks Indigenous People’s Day in the United States. Serving as an alternative to the federally recognized Columbus Day, Indigenous People’s Day seeks to honor and recognize Native American history and culture. Historically, Columbus Day has been part of a misleading narrative related to Christopher Columbus and the impacts of his and other Europeans’ arrival in the Americas. Over time, the second Monday in October has been recognized in different ways in different states, with some not celebrating it at all, and many cities and municipalities switching to a recognition of native people instead of Columbus in recent years.

Just this week, the City Council of Washington, D.C. voted to rename the second Monday in October to Indigenous People’s Day. Additionally, a recent poll found that 79% of college students in the country favor changing the federally recognized holiday to Indigenous People’s Day.  Seattle officially recognized the second Monday of October as Indigenous People’s Day in 2014. 

Locally, there are several opportunities to recognize and learn more about native people on Indigenous People’s Day, including these not listed:

Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Grand Opening Weekend

  • Monday, October 14, 10am - 5pm
  • The Burke Museum, 4300 15th Ave. NE, Seattle, WA 98105

Our Places, Our Stories: An Indigenous People’s Day Story Slam

  • Monday, October 14, 5pm - 7pm
  • The Collective, 400 Dexter Ave., Seattle, WA 98109

First People of UW Bothell

  • Wednesday October 16, 1:30pm - 3:00pm
  • UW1-030

Resources/Readings

  • Pay rent to the Duwamish tribe in Seattle, which is not federally recognized: https://www.realrentduwamish.org/ 
  • Learn which native tribe’s land you are on throughout North America: https://native-land.ca/ 
  • Signage to display at your work space or elsewhere L:\Signs\Native Lands 

Seattle Area businesses donating 10% of profits to United Indians of All Tribes Foundation

Thank you for reading,

Campus Library Social Justice Team
https://guides.lib.uw.edu/bothell/sjt

Chelsea, Heather, Kimberly, Michael, and Sarah S.