Spotlight: Indigenous Peoples’ Day
October 9, 2023
What is Indigenous Peoples’ Day?
Proclamation from the White House:
On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we honor the sovereignty, resilience, and immense contributions that Native Americans have made to the world; and we recommit to upholding our solemn trust and treaty responsibilities to Tribal Nations, strengthening our Nation-to-Nation ties.
For centuries, Indigenous Peoples were forcibly removed from ancestral lands, displaced, assimilated, and banned from worshiping or performing many sacred ceremonies. Yet today, they remain some of our greatest environmental stewards. They maintain strong religious beliefs that still feed the soul of our Nation. And they have chosen to serve in the United States Armed Forces at a higher rate than any other group. Native peoples challenge us to confront our past and do better, and their contributions to scholarship, law, the arts, public service, and more continue to guide us forward.
Typically on the second Monday of October, Indigenous Peoples’ Day recognizes the Indigenous communities that have lived in the Americas for thousands of years. It has become increasingly popular as a replacement for Columbus Day, which was meant to celebrate the explorer who sailed with a crew from Spain in three ships, the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria, in 1492.
Activists in cities such as Denver and Seattle have protested Columbus Day for years and in many cases have fought to gain recognition for Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
For Secondary Students
For Elementary Students
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Indigenous People Answer Commonly Googled Questions...
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About Indigenous Tribes of Washington
In terms of livelihood, many Native people rely on fishing as their main source of income; sea life and salmon are especially culturally important for the Coast Salish people. The Puget Sound, a sound that runs along the northwestern coast of Washington, is an important source of sea life for tribes located along the coast. The sound is known for its plentiful sea life, especially the various salmonoid species.
DID YOU KNOW: One common misconception regarding tribal artwork in Washington State is that totem poles are traditional art forms from the Coast Salish peoples. Totem poles are actually crests that represent clans from the indigenous people of Coastal Alaska and Canada. The reason why totem poles are associated with Seattle is because a group of men from Seattle came across a totem pole while in Alaska in 1899. The group brought the totem pole back to Seattle and was there known as the “Seattle Totem.” The Tlingit Indians later sued for the unlawful removal of the totem and the courts ruled in favor of the Tlingit people.