Out with 'Columbus Day’ in with ‘Indigenous People’s Day"

[presence]

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/201...s-peoples-day/

Justice Why These Cities Are Dropping ‘Columbus Day’ For ‘Indigenous People’s Day’

by Carimah Townes Oct 12, 2015 11:04am

CREDIT: AP Photo/Elaine Thompson
Tulalip Tribe member Johnny Moses reacts to Seattle's resolution to recognize Indigenous People's Day last year.

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Every year on the second Monday of October, millions of Americans get a day off from work in honor of Christopher Columbus’ “discovery” of America in 1492. The day is always a controversial one, as it glorifies a man who launched a large-scale genocide and European colonization.
But instead of celebrating Columbus, more cities than ever are choosing to commemorate Indigenous People’s Day this year. By remembering the history of native peoples, Albuquerque, Portland, St. Paul, and Olympia join at least five other cities shedding light on a population that still feels Columbus’ impact, centuries after his arrival.
For years, Native Americans have pressured local governments to acknowledge the mass atrocities committed by Columbus and flip the script by honoring indigenous groups’ contributions to the country instead. Efforts of tribal leaders in Olympia last year resulted in the city council formally recognizing Indigenous People’s Day. Albuquerque passed a similar resolution in 2014, but it will observe Columbus Day simultaneously. Portland tribes have pushed for a day of recognition since 1954. St. Paul has replaced Columbus Day altogether.
The cities — joining smaller ones in Oklahoma, Texas, and Michigan — are following in the footsteps of Berkeley and South Dakota, which stopped celebrating Columbus Day in the 1990s. South Dakota has observed Native American Day on the same Monday since 1990. In 1992, Berkeley celebrated the first Indigenous People’s Day on record. Last year, city councils in Seattle and Minneapolis voted to recognize Indigenous People’s Day, and the state of Washington no longer observes Columbus Day at all.
CREDIT: ThinkProgress/Dylan Petrohilos

“Reclaiming the second Monday in October as Indigenous People’s Day makes a powerful statement,” said Chair Deborah Kafoury of Multnomah County, Oregon. “It says, ‘We are no longer going to celebrate a time of genocide, but instead we will honor the land we live on and the people who have been here since the beginning.”
Tribal Chairman Reyn Leno of the Confederated Tribes of Grande Ronde in Portland shared the same sentiment. “We’ve been here for hundreds of thousands of years, and we’ve been shy about telling our own story,” he said. “I think that has led the public to have a lot of interest in what we do.”
While the celebration of Indigenous People’s Day marks a significant victory, Native Americans are still negatively impacted by Columbus’ legacy.
Today, 25 percent of Native Americans live in poverty, and economic conditions on reservations are even more dire. Due in large part to slashed federal education funding on reservations, native students have not yet closed the achievement gap the way other people of color have with their white peers. Native Americans have a shorter life expectancy than the rest of the population. They are disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system. And they are still treated as mascots and called derogatory names by major public figures.

[cajuncocoa]

[LibertyEagle]

Let's remove all of our history, and get it over with. Instead of this piecemeal crap.

Dig up confederate generals and take down any monuments of them.
Relegate the confederate flag to the dustbin and conflate it with something other than what it was.
Pretend that a large part of the United States was "stolen" from Mexico.
Replace Columbus Day with "indigenous people's day".
...

But, hey, maybe someone should explain to the "indigenous people" that they too came from somewhere else. lol

[Acala]

Columbus was an $#@!. We celebrate Columbus day as a result of political lobbying and the Unconstitutional command of FDR, certainly one of the five worst Presidents in US history. Even if we wanted to honor European explorers (and it were within enumerated Federal powers), there is no reason to select Columbus. He wasn't first. He wasn't particularly intrepid when compared to many others. And he committed mass atrocities under the banner of Christianity. If I were a Christian I would not want him being honored. Columbus Day celebrates a myth that covers evil deeds.

On the other hand, the mass atrocities committed by Columbus are trivial compared to the mass atrocities committed by "Indigenous People" upon each other and upon the Europeans. Ritual torture of captives, rape, and slavery were standard operating procedure among many indigenous people in North America before the arrival of Europeans.

Government needs to get out of the mythology business.

[presence]

Government needs to get out of the mythology business.

...and we have a new quote of the day!

[cajuncocoa]

And he committed mass atrocities under the banner of Christianity.

Where have I heard this before? /sarcasm

[Ender]

Columbus was an $#@!. We celebrate Columbus day as a result of political lobbying and the Unconstitutional command of FDR, certainly one of the five worst Presidents in US history. Even if we wanted to honor European explorers (and it were within enumerated Federal powers), there is no reason to select Columbus. He wasn't first. He wasn't particularly intrepid when compared to many others. And he committed mass atrocities under the banner of Christianity. If I were a Christian I would not want him being honored. Columbus Day celebrates a myth that covers evil deeds.

On the other hand, the mass atrocities committed by Columbus are trivial compared to the mass atrocities committed by "Indigenous People" upon each other and upon the Europeans. Ritual torture of captives, rape, and slavery were standard operating procedure among many indigenous people in North America before the arrival of Europeans.

Government needs to get out of the mythology business.

Agree completely that Columbus was a POS. And he never set foot in North America.

However, let's not paint all indigenous people with the same brush. The people that first met Columbus saved his ship and his sailors- they were the ones that were raped, tortured, and put into slavery.

The first settlers to North America were also greeted in peace.

Also, many things that Americans think of as Indian barbarianism didn't start with the Indians. Scalping was a British tradition that was prominent in Europe; the Brits paid $10 a scalp for any Indian- man, woman, or child. The only scalping that the Indians did prior was rare and only in certain tribes and was tied in with certain ceremonies.

[Acala]

Agree completely that Columbus was a POS. And he never set foot in North America.

However, let's not paint all indigenous people with the same brush. The people that first met Columbus saved his ship and his sailors- they were the ones that were raped, tortured, and put into slavery.

The first settlers to North America were also greeted in peace.

Also, many things that Americans think of as Indian barbarianism didn't start with the Indians. Scalping was a British tradition that was prominent in Europe; the Brits paid $10 a scalp for any Indian- man, woman, or child. The only scalping that the Indians did prior was rare and only in certain tribes and was tied in with certain ceremonies.

I deliberately didn't paint ALL indigenous people with the same brush. But let's not whitewash it. The dominant Indians of the Northeast - Hurons, Iroquois, Algonquins - tortured their captives routinely. They burned them, skinned them, cut them apart bit by bit, pertty much any horror you can think of. Men, womean and children all took part in the torture party. And they didn't learn it from Europeans.

I'm not defending the barbarity of the Europeans, but they didn't teach torture, rape and slavery to the Indians. The Indians were already adepts. The idea of the noble primitives living peacefully together in an unspoiled Eden is a myth.

[Ender]

I deliberately didn't paint ALL indigenous people with the same brush. But let's not whitewash it. The dominant Indians of the Northeast - Hurons, Iroquois, Algonquins - tortured their captives routinely. They burned them, skinned them, cut them apart bit by bit, pertty much any horror you can think of. Men, womean and children all took part in the torture party. And they didn't learn it from Europeans.

I'm not defending the barbarity of the Europeans, but they didn't teach torture, rape and slavery to the Indians. The Indians were already adepts. The idea of the noble primitives living peacefully together in an unspoiled Eden is a myth.

Never said it was Eden. But I think you can say the same about just about every country on earth, as far as barbarianism goes.

And, the Iroquois Nation brought peace through unity to several tribes. Our Constitution was originally based off of their treaty.

BTW- I'm not into "Indigenous People's Day" either- maybe Viking Day or Anu Day?

[tod evans]

Just leave it alone for Pete's sake.

Bunch of $#@!ing whiners!

[liveandletlive]

he did not discover anything, thats my gripe. If he didnt, why should he be celebrated. Putting indigenous people's gripes aside.

Ahmed did not build a clock and Colombus did not discover the Americas.

[Lucille]

[Acala]

Never said it was Eden. But I think you can say the same about just about every country on earth, as far as barbarianism goes.

And, the Iroquois Nation brought peace through unity to several tribes. Our Constitution was originally based off of their treaty.

BTW- I'm not into "Indigenous People's Day" either- maybe Viking Day or Anu Day?

The Iroquois were magnificent in many ways. But being nice guys was not one of them!

[Ender]

The Iroquois were magnificent in many ways. But being nice guys was not one of them!

Really? I think they were better than most. The Brits were some of the most savage people on the earth.

Despite the fact that the early explorers from Europe called the Native Americans, "savages," the Iroquois were perhaps more civilized than the people from Europe. The Native Americans had all they needed from the land, forest, rivers, lakes and ocean to survive. However, they lacked technology and a reading ability. These deficiencies made the Europeans feel superior.

During this comparative study of government and culture, we will be asking ourselves who really was superior? H-m-m-m-?

The Iroquois bathed daily. This kept germs, flies and smells away. The animals they hunted couldn't hear nor smell them coming. They successfully could kill animals at close range. The Europeans bathed only (phew) twice a year, dressed in heavy wool, layers of clothing, and armor. Their weapons were noisy and not too accurate. The animals could hear and smell their arrival in the forest.

The Iroquois League was developed to stop fighting amongst themselves and create a government for the clans. They guaranteed:

life (they could travel and hunt in any of the land occupied by the Iroquois)

freedom of religion

citizenship to those captured

equality -women were equal, and they had no slaves

diversity -women voted for the chiefs who were intelligent, good providers, and fair, The women were accepted as great farmers and appreciated by the whole tribe.

they had a form of federalism, the clans would meet with the whole tribe, and also with the whole council of Iroquois to discuss problems and set rules for living and punishment.

Popular sovereignty - the chief was there to serve his clan

Common good - the laws were good and fair for all

checks and balances - the tribes, as they sat across the Council Fire, had to agree or the laws were not made, nor carried out

The head chief was never a warrior, but he could declare war (our President can't be in the military, but he is in charge of it and can declare war)

If you noted many similarities between The Iroquois League Constitution and our own United States Constitution, you are very intelligent. You see, although the one hundred seven laws were memorized and only recited orally by special people, a Jesuit Missionary priest wrote down these laws because he was so impressed by the Iroquois' organization. Ben Franklin, James Madison and Thomas Jefferson had read these words, and based our Constitution on the Iroquois League. H-m-m-m? Were the Iroquois savages?

http://staff.gpschools.org/swartzn/i...s%20league.htm

As far as Columbus, he committed incredible atrocities on the natives.

Columbus Enslaved the Native People for Gold

Because Columbus reported a plethora of Natives for slaves, rivers of gold and fertile pastures to Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand, Columbus was given 17 ships and more than 1,200 men on his next expedition. However, Columbus had to deliver. In the next few years, Columbus was desperate to fulfill those promises—hundreds of Native slaves died on their way back to Spain and gold was not as bountiful as expected.

Columbus forced the Natives to work in gold mines until exhaustion. Those who opposed were beheaded or had their ears cut off.

In the provinces of Cicao all persons over 14 had to supply at least a thimble of gold dust every three months and were given copper necklaces as proof of their compliance. Those who did not fulfill their obligation had their hands cut off, which were tied around their necks while they bled to death—some 10,000 died handless.

In two years’ time, approximately 250,000 Indians on Haiti were dead. Many deaths included mass suicides or intentional poisonings or mothers killing their babies to avoid persecution.

According to Columbus, in a few years before his death, “Gold is the most precious of all commodities; gold constitutes treasure, and he who possesses it has all he needs in the world, as also the means of rescuing souls from purgatory, and restoring them to the enjoyment of paradise.”

Columbus Provided Native Sex Slaves to His Men

In addition to putting the Natives to work as slaves in his gold mines, Columbus also sold sex slaves to his men—some as young as 9. Columbus and his men also raided villages for sex and sport.

In the year 1500, Columbus wrote: “A hundred castellanoes are as easily obtained for a woman as for a farm, and it is very general and there are plenty of dealers who go about looking for girls; those from nine to ten are now in demand.”

Columbus’ Men Used Native People as Dog Food

In the early years of Columbus’ conquests there were butcher shops throughout the Caribbean where Indian bodies were sold as dog food. There was also a practice known as the montería infernal, the infernal chase, or manhunt, in which Indians were hunted by war-dogs.

These dogs—who also wore armor and had been fed human flesh, were a fierce match for the Indians. Live babies were also fed to these war dogs as sport, sometimes in front of horrified parents.

Read more at http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwor...bus-day-151653

[tod evans]

As far as Columbus, he committed incredible atrocities on the natives.

The folks in charge of government today are 'committing incredible atrocities' in your name as well as mine.

I say it's better to try and reign them in than it is to try and change tradition.

If Columbus actually did as the article professes I could care less, it's good knowledge but not a reason to vary tradition and certainly not a reason to rename or eliminate Columbus Day.

Most of us have warrior blood in our veins, some of us have the blood of outright monsters but that is no reason to shun our past or disavow our ancestors, if only more of us retained the intestinal fortitude of our forbearers we might not be saddled with the government we are.

[Acala]

Really? I think they were better than most. The Brits were some of the most savage people on the earth.



http://staff.gpschools.org/swartzn/i...s%20league.htm

As far as Columbus, he committed incredible atrocities on the natives.

Please note what I did NOT say. I did not say that the Iroquois were stupid, uncivilized, dirty, disorganized, unfair to their own, or any more violent or cruel than the Europeans or other Indian tribes. I simply said that the Iroquois (and many other tribes) routinely committed atrocities on other Indian tribes that were every bit as cruel as anything Columbus did, on a greater scale, and as far as anyone knows, for thousands of years. If you were "in" with the Iroquois, you had the benefit of their confederation. If you were an enemy, you would be slaughtered or, preferably, ritually tortured and then killed. If they could, manage it, they would destroy your tribe utterly. If you were a tribe that had not earned a place in the confederation but had given up resistance, your tribe would be enslaved, allowing the Iroquois to abuse, and rob you at will. This was why the first thing the Algonquins did when meeting the French under Champlain was lead them into war against the Iroquois. Bad move on the part of the French.

My only point is that there were no sweethearts back in the day. The myth that the Indians were gentle, peaceful folk is as false as the myth that the Europeans were chivalrous knights bringing civilization to the savages.

[Ender]

The folks in charge of government today are 'committing incredible atrocities' in your name as well as mine.

I say it's better to try and reign them in than it is to try and change tradition.

If Columbus actually did as the article professes I could care less, it's good knowledge but not a reason to vary tradition and certainly not a reason to rename or eliminate Columbus Day.

Most of us have warrior blood in our veins, some of us have the blood of outright monsters but that is no reason to shun our past or disavow our ancestors, if only more of us retained the intestinal fortitude of our forbearers we might not be saddled with the government we are.

Absolutely.

The problem I see is that Columbus never discovered America. This is a part of the false history that everyone learns in public school. PLUS making a holiday over him was a political move of FDR's. Like Acala said:

Originally Posted by Acala
Columbus was an $#@!. We celebrate Columbus day as a result of political lobbying and the Unconstitutional command of FDR, certainly one of the five worst Presidents in US history. Even if we wanted to honor European explorers (and it were within enumerated Federal powers), there is no reason to select Columbus.

In order to obtain FREEDOM, I believe we ought to start by learning TRUTH.

[Tywysog Cymru]

What about a day honoring Leif Erickson?

Pretend that a large part of the United States was "stolen" from Mexico.

I think that's actually self-explanatory.

[Ender]

What about a day honoring Leif Erickson?

Originally Posted by LibertyEagle
Pretend that a large part of the United States was "stolen" from Mexico.

I think that's actually self-explanatory.

I could go for Leif Erickson Day.

I guess LE never heard of the Mexican American War- probably thinks the dirty brown people invaded the US.

[Tywysog Cymru]

I could go for Leif Erickson Day.

I guess LE never heard of the Mexican American War- probably thinks the dirty brown people invaded the US.

We gave the Mexicans their freedom!