Title
Recognizing the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples Day in the City of Saint Paul and supporting Saint Paul Public Schools and its Indian Education Program along with all the community partners who are celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day.
Body
Whereas, the idea of Indigenous Peoples Day was first proposed in 1977 by a delegation of Native nations to the United Nations-sponsored International Conference on Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations in the Americas; and
Whereas, in an effort to reveal a more accurate historical record of the “discovery” of the United States of America, representatives from 120 Indigenous nations at the First Continental Conference on 500 years of Indian Resistance, unanimously passed a resolution to transform Columbus Day into an occasion to recognize the contributions of Indigenous people despite enormous efforts against native nations; and
Whereas, the City of Saint Paul has a strong history of supporting the American Indian Community and its citizens’ advancement in our society and has recognized Indigenous Peoples Day since 2015; and
Whereas, nearly 700 Saint Paul students, representing 60 tribes, identify as American Indian and an estimated 1,000 students have some ancestral ties to American Indian tribes, with the largest groups representing Ojibwe, Lakota, Dakota and Ho-Chunk nations from Minnesota, Wisconsin and the Dakotas; and
Whereas, the American Indian Education Program assists Saint Paul teachers who want to create meaningful lesson plans that highlight the history, culture and modern experiences of the American Indian community and has always tried to balance the narratives taught in many history textbooks with the lived experiences and oral histories of American Indian people; and
Whereas; many Saint Paul students participate in Ojibwe and Lakota-Dakota language classes, American Indian literature, American Indian history and American Indian art classes; and
Whereas, Saint Paul Public Schools and its Indian Education Program are marking Indigenous Peoples Day with a parade, food, speakers and demonstrations on Monday, October 9 at 11 am, beginning at American Indian Magnet School and marching along Earl Street to Indian Mounds Park as a celebration of the history, culture and resilience of the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas; and therefore be it
Resolved that the City of Saint Paul shall recognize October 9, 2017 as Indigenous Peoples Day; and be it further
Resolved that the City of Saint Paul supports the Saint Paul Public Schools and American Indian Education in the celebration of Indigenous Peoples Day; and be it further
Resolved, the City of Saint Paul encourages other businesses, organizations and public entities to recognize Indigenous Peoples Day; and be it further
Resolved that Indigenous Peoples Day shall be used to reflect upon the ongoing struggles of Indigenous people and to celebrate the thriving culture and value that Dakota, Ojibwe, other Indigenous nations add to our city.