Communities across the country are changing their official “Columbus Day” holiday to Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Every year, a new city or state adds its name to growing list of communities who would rather not memorialize the Italian explorer who caused genocide on Native communities. Instead, we celebrate the resiliency of Indigenous communities who faced colonial oppression at the hands of European explorers.
In honor of Indigenous Peoples Day, we’ve rounded up a quick list of things you can do to support Nations or tribes in your ecosystem, and be more culturally aware.
1. There is not one “native culture.” Don’t lump them all together.
Understand that there are over 560 federally recognized tribes across the United States. Each tribe has its own culture and traditions. Don’t assume you know what they are because you read one thing about one tribe. Do your research to learn more about the indigenous people in your communities.
2. Don’t exclude Native Americans in your diversity and inclusion efforts.
People have a tendency to focus on one or two specific cultural groups when creating panels or compiling data. Native Americans are often overlooked in these efforts. Their voices are important and should be heard.
3. Stop telling people you have “Native American blood.”
Being Native means different things to different people. Claiming to have a great great grandfather or uncle who was Native American does not make you Native American. It’s a very complex and emotional topic.
4. Be thoughtful and courteous at events.
Check your ego and privilege before attending an event hosted by the Native American community. Be humble and courteous. Do your research to understand the customs and traditions before attending. Don’t be the first person to participate or hop in the food line. Do the elders eat first? Are there customs around the food? Understand that you are not at an exhibit. Do the work and don’t exhaust others with constant questions and requests for explanations.
5. Help amplify the voices of Native Americans.
Who can you storytell about in your community? What Native American businesses can you highlight and support? What causes or efforts exist in your ecosystem focus on Indigeous people?
6. Know the land you are on and honor it.
Land is a very emotional subject for Native Americans for many reasons. It has meaning beyond ownership. Understand that every inch of the United States was illegally acquired. Visit your local Native cultural center to learn more about the history. This map is a great place to start. You can enter in your city and it will tell you more about the Nations or tribes whose land you are on.
7. Invite elder leaders to your events.
Invite them to attend, speak, or perform an invocation or prayer.
8. Support Native Businesses.
Buy Native. Support Native American artists and businesses and do the work to avoid buying “Native” items not made by Native people.
9. Stop using terms that refer to Native American culture.
Do the research on cultural appropriation. “Let’s have a pow wow.” “Bury the hatchet.” “Join my tribe”. Don’t use terms that refer to Native culture.
10. Don’t tokenize.
Do not tokenize Native people in your efforts to be diverse. Build relationships and equitably compensate.
This is just a short list of ways to honor rather than silence, tokenize, and marginalize Native Americans in your ecosystem. There’s a lot of work to be done in this area. Start by doing your research on Native American communities in and around your ecosystem. And if the National holiday being celebrated today in your ecosystem is Columbus Day, work with others in the state to change it.