October 13- To most Americans, the phrase “in 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue” sounds familiar. However, long before Columbus and other European explorers came to the Americas, a diverse array of Indigenous cultures called North and South America home. A home that was ultimately stripped from them after European settlers claimed the land as their own.
The colonization of the Americas led to a devastating loss of land and life for many across many Indigenous communities. For this reason, Indigenous People’s Day, celebrated the second Monday of October, serves as an important recognition of the invaluable contributions of indigenous communities to the world. It recognizes their inherent sovereignty, courage, and perseverance in the face of oppression.
