Indigenous
Peoples’ Day is being celebrated across the United States. This day honours
Native Americans and their ancestors. It further recognises their
contributions, while promising to educate Americans about the history of the
United States before colonial settlers arrived.
As the day
unfolded, users on social media sent out their messages to mark the day. President
Joe Biden issued a proclamation commemorating Indigenous Peoples’ Day, becoming
the first President of the country to do so. “On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, our
Nation celebrates the invaluable contributions and resilience of Indigenous
peoples, recognizes their inherent sovereignty, and commits to honoring the
Federal Government’s trust and treaty obligations to Tribal Nations,” Biden
said through the proclamation.
Users on
social media also sent out their messages.
“Happy
Indigenous Peoples Day! Everyday is a chance to acknowledge atrocities
committed against & reflect on the resilience of Indigenous Peoples,” Mayor
of Boston Kim Janey said.
“May we all
think about ways to support, uplift, and commemorate the diversity in our
communities and celebrate not just today but everyday,” Mountain View mayor
Ellen Kamei.
“Let’s
stand in solidarity with Indigenous Peoples’ climate leadership. We must call on
our leaders to recognize the sovereignty of Indigenous Peoples and end fossil
fuel expansion once and for all,” Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio tweeted.
“Today we
celebrate indigenous communities and cultures in honor of Indigenous Peoples’
Day. We must work to ensure that students are offered complete narratives and
diverse perspectives as they learn about the history of indigenous peoples in
our country,” Texas State Representative Alex Dominguez tweeted.
Many states
have officially ditched Columbus Day while others are celebrating it along with
Indigenous Peoples’ Day to recognise the native populations that were displaced
and decimated after Christopher Columbus and other European explorers reached
the continent in the 15th century and later.
