Oct11

indigenous people.

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According to the United Nations, there are currently more than 370 million Indigenous people spread across 70 countries worldwide. In total, they belong to some 5,000 different Indigenous groups and speak more than 4,000 languages. Many of these groups have distinct social, economic, and political systems, as well as distinct culture and beliefs. Sadly, they are often marginalized or directly threatened by more dominant powers in society — despite having been the original inhabitants of the land they occupy.

Indigenous peoples often have a strong attachment, understanding, and respect for their native lands, be it the great plains of the United States, the Canadian prairies, or the Amazon rainforest. This connection is frequently apparent in the wise words of Indigenous leaders both past and present. Today, with many Indigenous communities on the frontlines of the battle to protect our natural world, this wisdom is perhaps more important than ever.

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“Even though you and I are in different boats,

you in your boat and we in our canoe,

we share the same River of Life.

What befalls me, befalls you.”

-Oren Lyons, Onandaga Nation Chief

and member of the Indigenous Peoples of the Human Rights Commission of the United Nations

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Indigenous Peoples’ Day is a holiday that celebrates and honors Native American peoples and commemorates their histories and cultures. On October 8th, 2021 President Joe Biden signed a presidential proclamation declaring October 11th to be a national holiday.

 

 

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– credits: Penobscot History Museum, United Nations

 

69 responses »

  10. I’m wondering if we will ever see the truth of all of this? How can a society be so dim and narrow thinking? Too many questions, no answers. Saw a post on FB this morning I tried to copy to here. It says “some dude told me to go back to where I came from so I pitched a tent in his front yard.” It would make perfect sense to me. We don’t celebrate Columbus day here, It’s been Indigenous Peoples Day for a long time. My daughter is an avid REAL history fan.

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  22. The indigenous have a respect for the land unmatched by any immigrant who has taken over their land Here, in Canada they named September 30th National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. It has been named a National Statutory Holiday – only half the provinces have chosen to recognize it. Quebec, of course, not being one of them, which angers me greatly. I thought it was only us but read that Ontario, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan and Alberta are the four others that refuse to. Sigh.

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  24. So many ancient traditions and practices have been marginalised and forgotten.A loss to the natural world which must be restored if we are to have any hope for the future it is lovely to see this post as it is so important that we heed the messages such a brilliant quote 🙂

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  25. ‘Indigenous Peoples’ Day is a holiday that celebrates and honors Native American peoples and commemorates their histories and cultures.’
    It is very satisfying to know that such a day does exist, studying how repressed the native American community is. However, I strongly believe that just dedicating a day to the natives is not enough, they need to have more representation in all spheres. Just thinking about how the natives of a place are repressed is truly absurd, in my opinion.

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  26. Oren’s poem says it all. We don’t have to be part of the Native American culture to see that we should celebrate cultural differences, not denigrate them.

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