Title
Recognizing Immigrant Heritage Month, World Refugee Day, and Caribbean American Heritage Month.
Body
WHEREAS, Saint Paul stands on the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary Dakota homelands; and
WHEREAS, we pay respect to the Dakota elders past and present and acknowledge the treaties made by the tribal nations that entitled non-native people to live and work on traditional native lands; and
WHEREAS, we consider that the many legacies of violence, displacement, migration, and settlement have brought us to the current day, we commit to understanding, respecting, supporting, and advocating for Indigenous People and for this land; and
WHEREAS, Minnesota and Saint Paul, specifically, have benefited from welcoming immigrants and refugees into our community on traditional and contemporary Dakota homelands; and
WHEREAS, Immigrant Heritage Month, which was first recognized in 2014, provides an opportunity to celebrate the shared experiences and stories of immigrants, to honor their journeys and contributions, and to affirm our shared commitment to fostering a society welcoming to immigrants in our communities; and
WHEREAS, World Refugee Day, observed on June 20th every year, acknowledges the strength and courage of millions of refugees forced to flee their home countries due to conflict, persecution, or natural disasters, and highlights the need for global solidarity and support for their plight; and
WHEREAS, Caribbean American Heritage Month, first recognized in 2006, is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the Caribbean American community in the United States, to note that the majority of Caribbean Americans have roots in Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago, and to remember and honor notable Caribbean-Americans who have contributed to our shared history and culture; and
WHEREAS, One out of every five (5) persons living in Saint Paul was born outside the United States and over 60,000 immigrants call Saint Paul home; and
WHEREAS, The Saint Paul Public Schools have identified over one hundred and fifteen languages that are spoken in Saint Paul homes; and
WHEREAS, Saint Paul has a long and honored tradition of resettling immigrant and refugees; and
WHEREAS, people who arrive in Minnesota as immigrants and refugees, and their descendants, including Caribbean Americans, own homes, start businesses, and are valued members of our Saint Paul community; and
WHEREAS, Immigrants and refugees and their descendants, including Caribbean Americans, have made and continue to make significant contributions to the civic, cultural, and economic wellbeing of the city; and
THEREFORE, be it resolved that the Saint Paul City Council recognizes and honors the contributions that Immigrant, Refugees, and their descendants, including Caribbean Americans, have made to the City of Saint Paul, and encourages all city residents to join the City Council in recognizing and celebrating Immigrant Heritage Month, World Refugee Day, and Caribbean American Heritage Month in the City of Saint Paul.