EAST LANSING, Mich. – At its Sept. 27 meeting, East Lansing City Council approved a resolution recognizing the celebration of Indigenous People’s Day on the second Monday of October each year. In past years, the date had been recognized as Columbus Day.
The approval of the resolution stems from a recommendation from the East Lansing Human Relations Commission to replace Columbus Day with the recognition of Indigenous People’s Day in an effort to honor the City of East Lansing’s commitment to recognizing and respecting diversity and inclusion.
“With the approval of this resolution, we are joining communities across the U.S. that are publically recognizing and honoring the past and current contributions of Indigenous people in our country,” said East Lansing Human Resources Director and Human Relations Commission Staff Resource Shelli Neumann.
“Indigenous people have historically struggled for visibility and have continued to do so in the present day,” said East Lansing Human Relations Commission Member Julia Christensen. “It seemed fitting that the date used to celebrate Columbus Day should instead be used to elevate the voices, history and culture of Indigenous populations in our country.”
The City of East Lansing on today’s date; October 10, 2016; begins a new tradition of celebrating the second Monday in October as Indigenous People’s Day in an effort to reflect upon the ongoing struggles of Indigenous people in the U.S. and to celebrate the thriving cultures and value that the Odawa, Ojibwe, Potawatomi and other Indigenous people contribute to communities throughout Michigan, the U.S. and all over the world. Furthermore, the City of East Lansing encourages other businesses, organizations and public entities to recognize Indigenous People’s Day.
View East Lansing City Council’s approved resolution.