Cole, Horn back Indigenous Peoples Day resolution

U . S . R e p s . T o m C o l e and Kendra Horn have cosponsored a resolution that supports changing Columbus Day t o I ndigenous Peoples Day.

The resolution, introduced Friday, says Columbus Day “does not currently provide an opportunity to reflect on the colonization of North America by Europeans” and says the second Monday i n October “would be an appropriate date to designate as ` Indigenous Peoples Day.'”

The resolution would not require the replacement of Columbus Day, which has been a federal holiday since 1968 but isn't observed by all cities and states. Oklahoma City celebrated Indigenous P e o p l e s Da y o n Mond a y ; Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt is a member of the Osage Nation.

I n 2 0 1 9 , t h e Ok l a h o ma Legislature approved and Gov. Kevin Sttt signed a bill designating t he second Monday i n O c t o b e r a s Ok l a h o ma Native American

D a y . S t i t t i s a me mbe r o f Cole t he Cherokee

Nation. Cole, R- Moore, a st r ong a d v o c a t e i n Cong r e s s f o r tribal sovereignty and recognition, said, “Long before t he United States came t o b e , t r i b e s a n d i n d i g e n o u s p e o p l e l i v e d a n d t h r i v e d here. Centuries later, the first Americans continue to greatly influence, shape and contribute to our collective history. As a proud member of Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma, I am delighted to join in support of cr eati ng a f ederal holiday that commemorates and c e l e b r a t e s t h e r i c h h e r i - t a g e , u n i q u e c u l t u r e a n d special contributions of indigenous people i n the United States.”

Horn, D- Oklahoma City, s a i d Okl a h o ma “h a s b e e n shaped by rich and diverse t r aditions of our 39 Tribal Nat i o n s . Our t r i b a l c o mmunities contribute culture, economic investment, and so much more to our state. I will always honor and defend the rights of tribal sovereignty.”

The congressional resolution, authored by Rep. Norma Torres, D-Calif., says indigenous people live and flourished in the Americas for thousands of years before colonization. It states that:

• The "European colonization of North America led t o t he suppression, f orced assimilation, and genocide of Indigenous Peoples and their cultures”

• The House “recognizes and values the vast contributions made to the United States by Indigenous Peoples' knowledge, science, philosophy, arts, and culture”

• And i t i s “t he r e s pons i b i l i t y o f t h e H o u s e o f Re p r e s e n t a t i v e s t o f o s t e r i n c l u s i v i t y , r a c i a l e q u i t y , and justice for all people and oppose systemic practices that perpetuate oppression”

The resolution was sent the House Committee on Natural Resources, t hough i t ' s not clear whether the panel will consider it this year.