Idaho Indigenous People's Day

(blog image captured from NPR in Buffalo)

Monday October 10^th is Columbus Day. In 2015 it was reported that 14 cities had replaced it with Indigenous People's Day. And more have been joining in this last year. Two of the most resent as of this date are the cities of Denver, Colorado October 2016 and of Spokane, Washington August of 2016. Related is the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People celebrated on August 9^th.

Here is a very good article about this published on Tuesday, October 4th by Common Dreams. He touches on what is taught in school and many children basically think Indians are Dead. Howard Zinn also addresses real history in his People's History of the United States in chapter 7: As Long As Grass Grows and Water Runs.

The current activities at the North Dakota access pipeline protests (unfortunately under reported) has put a bit of a spotlight on issues central to the Native Americans and their presence in our country. Issues of Sacred Land and Sites, broken treaties and the presence of a third world country within our borders are being discussed. But more than discussions we need more spotlights put on Indians and their issues. Hopefully cities changing the celebration of Columbus to a truer celebration by enacting Indigenous People Day will be a great start.

Here in Idaho where I live, I have not, as of yet, found a push to have this done here. But being a republican/conservative driven state it is a tough row to hoe. The closest holiday we have is perhaps Idaho Human Rights Day. We do have a group that has been working for 8 years plus to get our legislature to add the LGBT community to the list of those protected in our Human Right Act by adding four words. Add The Words Idaho is the organization spearheading this change. I have searched some but have not found any concerted effort by any group to get any city in Idaho, let alone the state, to adopt the day, not even in the small liberal stronghold of the capital city of Boise.

As a board member of the Idaho Peace Coalition I am going the write to the other board members and see if this is an issue we may like to take on.

Perhaps a gathering at the Idaho Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial would be a good start with the help of friends at the ACLU Idaho and United Action for Idaho. Perhaps the Agency for New Americans would wish to be evolved as celebrating the cultures of refugees is also of importance.

And of course contact will be made to the The Shoshone-Bannock tribes, the Nez Perce, Coeur d'Alene tribe, Shoshone-Paiute, the Kootenai Tribe as well as others Idaho Indian advocates.

In closing. If you have read the previous post here you may have gleaned that I have been disappointed at myself and my reactions to the current politics. Tip O'Neil said, “All politics is local.” And I agree. So given this I have decided to be more engaged in areas that touch me on a more personal basis. (small note, I am 1/8 Native American) My participation with The Idaho Peace Coalition has been spotty at most in recent times even though the work is dear to my heart. I apologize to my fellow board members. As mentioned in the previous post I am working on my personal anger issues but I know if I work for others in a more peaceful way I can help them and thus also help myself. If you would like to help with this proposed project or have ideas to share please contact me.. Please share this post with others who may be interested.

AHO

Edit Addition: On Monday, October 10 at 10 AM - 2 PM Boise State University will be holding an Indigenous People's Day Event LINK HERE FACEBOOK EVENT LISING

Sponsored by Multicultural Student Services (Boise State University)