Today, for the first time in our cities’ history, we recognize Indigenous People’s Day, instead of the federal Columbus Day holiday. Last week the Seattle City Council passed a unanimous resolution to make it official. It’s a small way to celebrate the many contributions of indigenous cultures in our society and, equally important, to acknowledge the racism and discrimination that marks our past.
Some of my earliest memories from school are of learning about Columbus’ journey to the Americas. I don’t remember a lot from first grade, but I still remember the song… “In 1492, Columbus sailed the Ocean Blue…” We learned to celebrate him as a great explorer and founder of the ‘new world’, without learning about the destruction he, and countless others like him, left in their path.
Doing away with Columbus Day doesn’t erase the shameful parts of our past, nor does it cover up the inequality that still exists in our society today, especially for indigenous peoples. But I’m hella proud of Seattle for taking this step, and grateful for all the activists and community members that have spent years working for this long overdue change.
Finally, shout out to Nikk and the good people at Daybreak Star Cultural Center, celebrating today!
