Indigenous People's Day Resolution

I was honored to coauthor Council Member Alondra Cano's resolution Recognizing the Second Monday of October as Indigenous Peoples Day.

I see this resolution as another step in the healing process that we began with the "Year of the Dakota" resolution in 2012.  It was incredibly moving to see the outpouring of excitement and support from our community - especially, but not only, the indigenous community.

As I said during teh council discussion, we can't move forward as a whole, healthy city until we face and address the unjust and brutal parts of our history.  The genocide of American Indian cultures has effects - on indigenous and non-indigenous people alike - that ripple down to this day.  Only by owning and acknowledging this history can we move forward, in peace and cooperation, together.