— from Lin McNulty —

LummiLogo

Logo of our local Lummi Tribe.

Today the Seattle City Council unanimously passed a resolution to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day on the same day as the federally recognized holiday, Columbus Day. Columbus Day is not a state-recognized holiday in Washington (RCW 1.16.050), i.e., state offices don’t close down for the day.

Indigenous Peoples’ Day, to honor the contributions and culture of Native Americans and the indigenous community in Seattle, will be celebrated on the second Monday in October.

As reported by ABC News, “This action will allow us to bring into current present day our valuable and rich history, and it’s there for future generations to learn,” said Fawn Sharp, president of the Quinault Indian Nation on the Olympic Peninsula. She is also president of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians.

“Nobody discovered Seattle, Washington,” she said to a round of applause.

Columbus Day has long been thought by many to be a controversial holiday. Yes, Columbus was a gutsy sailor who set sail to the into unknown waters. And, yes, it was fortuitous that he “discovered” a new land, but his treatment of the natives of that new land was deplorable and not worthy of celebration in any manner whatsoever.

The Bellingham City Council also is concerned that Columbus Day offends some Native Americans. It will consider an ordinance Oct. 13 to recognize the second Monday in October as Coast Salish Day.

In our Salish Sea, the native origins of our islands is both seen and felt. It is time to honor them and be done with the Columbus Day fantasy.

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