Celebrating Indigenous People – A President’s Proclamation
November 3, 2021
Celebrating Indigenous People – A President’s Proclamation
Submitted by Marcyanna Parzych- Maintenance Technician- Facilities Department
Monday, October 11, 2021
Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Even though Indigenous Peoples’ Day has been around since 1992, it has taken 29 years for an official Federal Government acknowledgment of the holiday. On October 8, 2021, President Biden issued A Proclamation on Indigenous Peoples’ Day, 2021. While various states and municipalities have recognized and celebrated this day for years, this is the first time a President of the United States of America has officially recognized Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
2021 has not only been a year for COVID-19 vaccine-related news but also the devastating effects that the virus has had on the BIPOC community. It has highlighted the systemic racism and inequities Indigenous People endure regarding access to resources and medical care.
One of the first things that we can do to support Indigenous People is acknowledge which tribal lands we are now occupying and which group of Indigenous People we have displaced. CCS has a Land Acknowledgment Statement statement on the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion main page.
Land Acknowledgement Statement
The College for Creative Studies respectfully acknowledges that we are on the traditional, contemporary, and ancestral homelands of the Anishinaabe – Council of Three Fires: the Ojibwe/Chippewa, Odawa/Ottawa, and Potawatomi/Bodéwadmi along with their neighbors the Seneca, Delaware, Fox, Shawnee, Loups, Miami and Wyandot who maintained, and continue to preserve lifeways along Detroit’s river banks and throughout the Great Lakes region. By signing the Treaty of Detroit in 1807, Anishinaabek tribes ceded the land now occupied by the city we stand on. We recognize Michigan is home to 12 federally recognized tribes who continue to steward this land, in remembrance of their ancestors and thinking of future generations.
The College for Creative Studies (CCS), in partnership with Detroit Historical Society (DHS), is creating a new body of visual stories and narratives related to the DHS “Documenting Detroit” series. Students from the Communication Design Department and the Photography Department are collaborating to deliver a series of experimental printed and digital experiences that showcase new storytelling methods aligned with the Grandmothers Council. Please stay tuned for more information pertaining to this partnership.
Some of the other ways we can support Indigenous People, courtesy of Diversity Inc, can be located HERE.
As an Educational and Creative Arts Community, it is especially important to “practice what we preach”. As a college community, we must continue to educate ourselves on the violent history, erasure and cultural exploitation Indigenous People have and continue to experience. This year’s news stories have highlighted these issues. Indigenous People have rich, beautiful cultures full of wisdom. We all must make an effort to address these issues if we want a truly equitable society.
Events
- National Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2021: A Virtual Celebration
- Detroit will honor Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Resources
- Want to be an ally to Indigenous people? Listen and unlearn, say 2 community workers
- 7 Ways to Celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day with Kids – Detroit and Ann Arbor Metro Parent
- MMIWG2S
- A Weekly Podcast
- Sisters in Spirit vigil celebrates the lives of missing and murdered Indigenous women
- Joyce Echaquan’s courage has empowered Indigenous people to speak up, says grand chief
- Mi’kmaw quillwork podcast delves into issues of Indigenous identity
- The 400 Years Project Looks At Native American Identity Through The Native Lens
- How to honor the stories and voices of Indigenous Peoples
- Oregon Trail Gets A Makeover With More Accurate Native American Representation
- Biden is first president to mark Indigenous Peoples’ Day
- COVID-19 and Indigenous peoples | United Nations For Indigenous Peoples
- What The Navajo Nation And Ireland Can Teach Rich Countries About Generosity: Goats and Soda
- Native American History in Detroit (US National Park Service)
- National Indian Education Association (NIEA)
- Native Women’s Wilderness
- Apache-Stronghold
