Title
Resolution Recognizing the Second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples Day
Body
Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor recognizes that Indigenous peoples, including from the Odawa, Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Wyandot tribes, lived upon the land and along the Huron River in our community for many hundreds of years before our city’s founding;
Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor recognizes that dislocation, disease, war, disenfranchisement, and other atrocities devastated these communities at different times, causing most Indigenous peoples to be expelled from their homes in this area by the 1830s;
Whereas, The University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor was established by a land grant from the Ojibwa (Chippewa), Odawa (Ottawa), and Bodewadimi (Potawatomi) in the Treaty of Fort Meigs;
Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor understands that in order to help close the equity gap, government entities, organizations and other public institutions should change their policies and practices to better reflect experiences of Native American people and uplift our country's Indigenous roots, history, and contributions;
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 1990 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 opportunity to educate the rest of the country about pre-existing Indigenous cultures that have survived an often violent colonization process and continue to exist and thrive in present day America; and
Whereas, The State of Alaska, the cities of Seattle, WA; Berkeley, CA; Minneapolis, MN; Traverse City, MI; Alpena, MI; and many others have voted to rename Columbus Day as Indigenous Peoples Day to honor the culture, heritage and contributions of Native Americans; and
Whereas, In Michigan, Traverse City and Alpena have both voted to rename Columbus Day as Indigenous Peoples Day to honor the culture, heritage and contributions of Native Americans; and
Whereas, The Tribal Council of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians has passed a Resolution (1) officially recognizing the Indigenous Peoples Day on the second Monday in October, and (2) that Indigenous Peoples Day shall be used to reflect upon the ongoing struggles of indigenous peoples on this land, and to celebrate the thriving culture and value that the Odawa, Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and other indigenous peoples and to communities.
RESOLVED, That the City of Ann Arbor shall, instead of recognizing Columbus Day, recognize Indigenous Peoples Day on the second Monday of October;
RESOLVED, That Indigenous Peoples Day shall be used to reflect upon the ongoing struggles of Indigenous people on this land, and to celebrate the thriving culture and value that the Odawa, Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and other indigenous peoples add to communities throughout Michigan the Great Lakes, and all over the world.
RESOLVED, The City of Ann Arbor encourages other businesses, organizations and public entities to recognize Indigenous Peoples Day.
Sponsored by: Councilmember Warpehoski