Events

Events

Events

Here’s the story behind Indigenous Peoples’ Day and how the Seattle area is marking it

142226– INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY LO — 10/13/2014 Gene Tagaban, a Tlingit from southeast Alaska, sings a “Hoonah Exit Song” as drums play for a celebration of the first Indigenous Peoples’ Day at Daybreak Star Cultural Center in Seattle on Monday, Oct. 13, 2014. “I think it’s just awesome. It’s long overdue for the truth to be heard,” Tagaban said. On Monday afternoon, Mayor Ed Murray signed Resolution No. 31538 to rename Columbus Day “Indigenous Peoples’ Day” in Seattle. “It’s a sign that the greater community is becoming aware of the issues affecting the indigenous community, and that’s important because it’s a human rights issue,” said Christopher Byrd Nagethligai Cullen of the Dine (Navajo), a member of the Indigenous Peoples’ Day Celebration 2014 Planning Committee. Thaidra Alfred of the Cowichan tribe, a committee member who worked to help get the resolution passed, thinks the change is “Pretty phenomenal,” but knows that some Italian-Americans are upset about the change. “I understand their connection to their heritage… (but) there’s other Italian-Americans to be just as proud of.”

The Seattle City Council dedicated the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples Day with a resolution in 2014.

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