U.S. News
Biden issued a proclamation to mark Indigenous Peoples’ Day [Video]
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- President Joe Biden issued a proclamation this week to mark Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
- It is the first time a US president had commemorated the holiday.
- The day will be observed on Oct. 11, along with Columbus Day.
President Joe Biden on Friday issued the first-ever presidential proclamation of Indigenous Peoples’ Day. It aims to refocus the federal holiday celebrating Christopher Columbus toward an appreciation of Native peoples.
The day will be observed Oct. 11, along with Columbus Day, which is established by Congress. While Native Americans have campaigned for years for local and national days in recognition of the country’s indigenous peoples, Biden’s announcement appeared to catch many by surprise.
“This was completely unexpected. Even though we’ve been talking about it and wanting it for so long,” said Hillary Kempenich, an artist and member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa.
In 2019, she and other tribal members successfully campaigned for her town of Grand Forks, N.D., to replace Columbus Day with a day recognizing Native peoples.
“For generations, Federal policies systematically sought to assimilate and displace Native people and eradicate Native cultures,” Biden wrote in the Indigenous Peoples’ Day proclamation. “Today, we recognize Indigenous peoples’ resilience and strength as well as the immeasurable positive impact that they have made on every aspect of American society.”
In a separate proclamation on Columbus Day, Biden praised the role of Italian Americans in U.S. society, but also referenced the violence and harm Columbus and other explorers of the age brought about on the Americas.
Making landfall in what is now the Bahamas on Oct. 12, 1492, Columbus, an Italian, was the first of a wave of European explorers who decimated Native populations in the Americas in quests for gold and other wealth, including people to enslave.
“Today, we also acknowledge the painful history of wrongs and atrocities that many European explorers inflicted on Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities,” Biden wrote.
“It is a measure of our greatness as a Nation that we do not seek to bury these shameful episodes of our past — that we face them honestly, we bring them to the light, and we do all we can to address them.”
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden “felt strongly” about recognizing Indigenous Peoples Day. Asked if Biden might seek to end marking Columbus Day as a federal holiday, she replied, “I don’t have any predictions at this point.”
John Echohawk, executive director of the Native American Rights Fund, said the president’s decision to recognize Indigenous Peoples Day was an important step.
“Big changes happen from each small step, and we hope this administration intends to continue making positive steps towards shaping a brighter future for all citizens,” Echohawak said.
Source: Yahoo! News
anthony manzo
October 11, 2021 at 10:01 am
Hey JOE, Check the southern BORDER we are BEING INVADED buy Only GOD knows WHO. Get on AIRFORCES ONE tell the Navigator you want to go to the SOUTHERN BORDER HE WILL GET YOU THERE. STOP with the WORDS, Lets SEE SOME POSITIVE ACTION. STOP trying to LOOK Presidential and STTART acting PRESIDENTIAL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tom
October 11, 2021 at 10:28 am
I think this is a good thing. I wish it would have been voted on by Congress. Columbus committed many atrocities to Native Americans. I never liked the holiday anyway because of what he did to them. Thanks Joe!
Wayne
October 11, 2021 at 10:39 am
Indians committed atrocities among their own people and tribes. Idiots think they were hugging each other with the trees, dancing, and smoking peyote.
It’s always been plain Joe is a befuddled moron. Always has been, even when his mind hadn’t collapsed in dementia.
Walter E Beverly III
October 11, 2021 at 10:40 am
Pure Unadulterated Horse Pucky! There is NO legitimate documentation of any atrocities committed by Columbus.
You are showing your true colors and they are not RED WHAT and BLUE, are they, Socialist.
Oscar Pearson
October 11, 2021 at 12:04 pm
Columbus didn’t do anything.
Walter E Beverly III
October 11, 2021 at 10:37 am
Sleepy Joe can take his Indigenous People’s Day and stick it where the sun don’t shine! This is COLUMBUS DAY! The real Sleepy Joe is showing his true colors and they do not run RED WHAT AND BLUE!
Oscar Pearson
October 11, 2021 at 12:03 pm
Well said.
Oscar Pearson
October 11, 2021 at 12:02 pm
But no mention of the 6 million plus Jews that were exterminated. Two-faced Biden.
Bruce Walters
October 11, 2021 at 12:32 pm
At least Joe keeps his holiday, APRIL FOOLS DAY
WE THE PEOPLE
October 11, 2021 at 7:46 pm
I think people should start reading both sides of the story, Columbus, Southern & Northern Presidents & generals & even American Indians & Black people ALL did things wrong!! Not a one of them even Biden, Harris, Obama, Pelosi etc. etc. & their ancestors are not guilty about many things, all are involved in many shady actions through the years so if you want to throw crap throw it at all of them! That is why real History is a must not some jumbled crap the Democrats are trying to make you believe!! Grow up cause NO one is perfect & without sin!! What we need to do is realize what they & we did wrong & not let it happen again!!