Happy Indigenous People’s Day! Today, we celebrate and honor the cultures, contributions, and resilience of Native American people. Furthermore, this blog post contains a brief explanation of the impact and importance of Indigenous People’s Day and how to honor it.
The Brief History of Indigenous Day
As beautifully stated by The White House, “American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians have built vibrant and diverse cultures – safeguarding land, language, spirit, knowledge, and tradition across the generations.” Today, we celebrate and honor the contributions of the Indigenous people and Tribal nations.
Cultural Celebrations for Indigenous Day
The celebration of Indigenous Day can be used as an opportunity to celebrate Native American culture, history, and teachings. Furthermore, it can be used as a day to learn about the violence that colonists used against Tribal communities throughout history. In addition, similar to how one may honor Earth Day, Indigenous Day can be honored in the following ways –
- Acknowledge the land you’re on by researching the history of the land you live on.
- Enjoy being a steward of your local land by spending time connecting with nature and building a respectful relationship with the land around you.
- Share about Indigenous People’s Day by amplifying the voices of Native American leaders.
- Rebuild local ecosystems with native plants by farming organic, sustainable plants that are unique to your environment.
- Purchase from Indigenous businesses from clothing, jewelry, body care products, home decor, artwork, and cookbooks.
- Share the art of storytelling by bringing a group together and sharing stories verbally.
- Share and read fiction and nonfiction books about Indigenous people.
- Donate to a cause such as the American Indian College Fund, Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women, or Seeding Sovereignty.
- Help execute meaningful change.
- Take a class to learn traditional skills such as Native Arts, Native American dancing, or basketry.
- Visit a museum about the history of Indigenous people.
- Attend a local festival with your area’s local tribe(s).
- Get creative with digital assets by using specific colors, flags, patterns, or figures from history.
- Create a meal similar to what Indigenous people may have eaten.
Food-Inspired by the Indigenous People
According to Colorado State University, some of our favorite foods were inspired by Tribal communities. Some of these foods include –
- “Vegetables – squash, pumpkin, kale, and corn
- Fruit – berries
- Grains – amaranth, quinoa, and wild rice
- Nuts and Seeds – chia seeds, sunflower seeds, acorns, and pine nuts
- Natural Sweeteners – maple syrup or honey
- Proteins – smoked Trout or seared Salmon”
Conclusion
In conclusion, Indigenous People’s Day is a day to commemorate the culture, noble acts, and teachings of Native American tribes.