10/13/2025
Happy Indigenous Peoples' Day!!
Today, as we recognize Indigenous Peoples' Day, it's a crucial time to reflect on our individual and collective relationships with the land we inhabit. This day is not just an alternative to Columbus Day; it's a powerful and necessary reframing of history, one that centers the experiences, resilience, and ongoing existence of Indigenous peoples.
A fundamental question we must all ask ourselves is: Whose land am I on? This is more than a simple fact; it's an acknowledgment of the history of violent displacement and dispossession that has shaped the geography of our communities. The land we live on, work on, and enjoy was and is the homeland of Indigenous nations. Knowing the specific tribes and nations whose ancestral lands you are on is a vital first step in understanding your connection to this history.
This connection to history is not an abstract concept. It's woven into the very fabric of our lives, built upon the colonial occupation of this land and the violent displacement of Indigenous people. To be on stolen land means to be a beneficiary of a system that has systematically erased Indigenous cultures, languages, and ways of life. It means recognizing that the abundance we enjoy—from natural resources to the infrastructure of our cities—is a direct result of this historical injustice.
Our relationship with the earth, with natural resources, and with our non-human relatives is deeply connected to this history. For many Indigenous cultures, these relationships are reciprocal and sacred. The land is not a resource to be exploited, but a relative to be cared for. The colonial mindset, in contrast, often treats the land as property, leading to the environmental degradation we see today. Reconnecting with the land in a meaningful way requires us to unlearn these colonial perspectives and listen to the Indigenous wisdom that has sustained this earth for millennia.
For allies, it's not enough to simply acknowledge the land or be thankful for it. True allyship goes beyond performative gestures. It requires taking action to support Indigenous-led work. This can take many forms:
Listen to Indigenous voices: Amplify their stories, their struggles, and their triumphs. Follow Indigenous creators, journalists, and activists.
Support Indigenous-led organizations: Donate to and volunteer with groups that are working on issues like land back, environmental justice, language revitalization, and cultural preservation.
Educate yourself and others: Learn about the history of the Indigenous peoples of your area, the ongoing challenges they face, and the incredible resilience of their communities.
Advocate for policy change: Support legislation that protects Indigenous rights, respects tribal sovereignty, and addresses historical injustices.
Buy from and support Indigenous artists and businesses: Help build Indigenous economic self-sufficiency.
Today, let's move beyond a moment of recognition and into a commitment of action. Let's work together to dismantle the colonial structures that still exist, and to honor the histories, cultures, and ongoing existence of Indigenous peoples.
