2015-04: To Abolish Columbus Day and Replace with Indigenous Peoples' Day

WHEREAS, the National Indian Education Association (NIEA) was established in 1970 for the purpose of advocating, planning, and promoting the unique and special educational needs of American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians; and

WHEREAS, NIEA as the largest national Indian organization of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian educators, administrators, parents, and students in the United States, provides a forum to discuss and act upon issues affecting the education of Indian and Native people; and

WHEREAS, through its unique relationship with Indian nations and tribes, the federal government has established programs and resources to meet the educational needs of American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians, residing on and off their reserved or non-reserved homelands; and

WHEREAS, in 1934 the United States Congress authorized the second Monday of October as Columbus Day to be recognized as a federal holiday and was signed into law; and

WHEREAS, history has revealed that Christopher Columbus did not discover a “New World”,

when in fact Indigenous Nations long lived and existed in North, Central, and South America since time immemorial; and

WHEREAS, history has revealed that the voyages of Columbus brought forth and were directly responsible for a cultural and physical genocide of Indigenous People, Nations, and Lands; and

WHEREAS, in 1990 South Dakota was the first state to officially change Columbus Day to Native Heritage Day to honor the Indigenous People and tribes of South Dakota; and

WHEREAS, there is a growing movement of cities and communities across the country that have taken steps to abolish Columbus Day and replace with Indigenous Peoples’ Day; and

WHEREAS, by honoring Indigenous Peoples’ Day, it would recognize and value the vast contributions made to our country through Indigenous peoples’ knowledge, science, philosophy, arts, and culture and by which this country has thrived and prospered; and

WHEREAS, by honoring this day, we as a nation would continue to promote racial equity and justice for all people and oppose discrimination towards Indigenous peoples as it perpetuates poverty, racism, social justice issues, income inequity, and inequities in health and education; and

WHEREAS, with the recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ Day as a federal holiday, this Nation would take proactive steps to officially recognize and honor the historical and contemporary contributions, treaties, education, and awareness of this Nation’s first people.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the NIEA calls upon the United States Congress to abolish the name ‘Columbus Day’ as the name for the federal holiday held annually on the second Monday of October; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NIEA calls upon the United States Congress to celebrate the day by recognizing the Indigenous people of the United States with the name Indigenous Peoples’ Day; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that this resolution shall be the policy of NIEA until it is withdrawn or modified by subsequent resolution.