Oct 14, 2015 - Fargo, Denver and the State of Alaska Pass Indigenous Peoples’ Day Resolutions

On Monday, October 12th, the growing movement to abolish Columbus Day on the local level saw resolutions passed to establish “Indigenous Peoples’ Day” on the second Monday in October in Fargo, ND, Denver, CO and the State of Alaska.

They join an ever growing list of local jurisdictions to declare an Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

South Dakota was the first State to replace Columbus Day when it passed “Native American Day” in 1990.  Berekely, CA became the first city to pass an Indigenous Peoples’ Day in 1992.  In 2014, the efforts to abolish Columbus Day on the local level was revived when Minneapolis and Seattle passed resolutions setting off a wave of city, and now state, resolutions establishing Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

“We sought to show the power our communities possess when we come together unified under the belief and knowledge that what we do today is both work to heal past generations and lift the spirits of our future generations.” ~Matt Remle (Lakota) author of Seattle’s Indigenous Peoples’ Day resolution

Efforts to pass Indigenous Peoples’ Day resolutions have been driven by local Native community members.

*Photo by Alex Garland (From Seattle’s 2nd Annual Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration)