2023 House Resolution 145

Whereas, The state of Michigan understands that in order to help close the equity gap, government entities should change their policies and practices to better reflect and uplift the experiences, culture, history, and contributions of the people they serve; and

Whereas, The state of Michigan recognizes that Columbus Day has been viewed by many as a celebration of our country’s rich immigrant and, in particular, Italian and Catholic heritage; and

Whereas, Recognizing the valuable contributions of immigrants to our history is important, it should not come at the expense of recognizing the experiences of the indigenous people of the American continent; and

Whereas, Michigan honors the twelve federally recognized tribes and many more tribally recognized tribes native to this land and acknowledges the people, land, traditions, and customs stolen by colonial systems through government practices of forced separation, forced assimilation, and forced removal; and

Whereas, The idea of Indigenous Peoples’ Day was first proposed in 1977 by a delegation of Native Nations to the United Nations-sponsored International Conference on Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations in the Americas; and

Whereas, In 1990, representatives from 120 Indigenous Nations at the First Continental Conference on 500 Years of Indian Resistance unanimously passed a resolution to transform Columbus Day into an opportunity to reveal historical truths about pre-existing indigenous cultures that have survived a violent colonization process and continue to exist and thrive in present day America; and

Whereas, The United States endorsed the United Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples on December 16, 2010, and Article 15 of that declaration states “Indigenous peoples have the right to the dignity and diversity of their cultures, traditions, histories, and aspirations, which shall be appropriately reflected in education and public information. States should take effective measures, in consultation and cooperation with the Indigenous peoples concerned, to combat prejudice and eliminate discrimination and to promote tolerance, understanding, and good relations among Indigenous peoples and all other segments of society”; and

Whereas, The state of Michigan recognizes the presence of the three major groups in our state today, the Three Fires Confederacy, the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi, collectively known as the Anishinaabe who have lived upon this land since time immemorial, and values the progress our society has accomplished through Native American thought and culture; and

Whereas, The establishment of Indigenous Peoples’ Day shall be used to reflect upon the ongoing struggles of indigenous peoples on this land and to celebrate the thriving cultures and values that the Anishinaabe of the Great Lakes and other indigenous peoples contribute to society; and

Whereas, Many of our indigenous relatives and Tribal Nations in Michigan have contributed much to our state’s success, history, economy, politics, and cultural heritage, and there are many things to be proud of as an indigenous person in Michigan; and

Whereas, Even the name Michigan is derived from the Anishinaabemowin word michigami meaning “great lake” and there are many other examples of how the Anishinaabe of the Great Lakes have helped shape who we are as the state of Michigan, and

Whereas, The states of Alaska and Michigan, the cities of Seattle, Washington, Berkeley, California, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and many more cities around the country including Traverse City, Ann Arbor, East Lansing, and Alpena in Michigan have voted to rename Columbus Day as Indigenous Peoples’ Day to honor the culture, heritage, and contributions of Native Americans; and

Whereas, On this second Monday of October, we should honor the historic, cultural, and contemporary significance of indigenous peoples and their ancestral lands that also became known as the Americas and celebrate their contributions to communities throughout Michigan, the United States, and all over the world; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body declare October 9, 2023, as Indigenous Peoples’ Day in the state of Michigan. We recognize this day in lieu of Columbus Day to uplift our country’s indigenous roots, history, and contributions; and be it further

Resolved, That Indigenous Peoples’ Day shall be used to reflect upon the ongoing struggles of indigenous people on this land and to celebrate the thriving culture and value that Odawa, Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and other indigenous peoples add to communities throughout Michigan and our Great Lakes region.