Should Indigenous Peoples Day Be A State Holiday?
Loredo Taft's statue of "The Eternal Indian", also known as the Black Hawk Statue, stands over the Rock River in Lowden State Park near Oregon, Illinois. IvoShandor/Wikimedia Commons
Some states and cities in the U.S. officially recognize Indigenous Peoples Day. In Illinois, some have pushed the state to officially replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day. The 21st was joined by the executive director of the American Indian Center of Chicago, the founder of the new student organization TRIBE at ISU, and the chairperson of the Native American Employment Plan Advisory Council to talk about the American Indian Center's recent powwow and Indigenous Peoples Day.
GUESTS:
Melodi Serna
Executive Director of The American Indian Center of Chicago
Nitakechi Muckintubbee
Choctaw and Chickasaw from Peoria, Sophomore at Illinois State University, and founder of the new student organization TRIBE at Illinois State University.
Andrew Johnson
Chairperson of the Native American Employment Plan Advisory Council, Executive Director, Native American Chamber of Commerce of Illinois, and President of Cherokee Metal and Alloy Products, LLC
This year marks the first time a U.S. president has officially recognized Indigenous Peoples' Day.
— NPR (@NPR) October 11, 2021
Here's a look at the growing movement to acknowledge it — and what it means for Native Americans today.
https://t.co/99Qi4jXn9r
Prepared for web by Owen Henderson
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