Today marks the first year that a Presidential Proclamation acknowledges Indigenous Peoples’ Day—a day to reclaim and re-center the lives, contributions, and histories of Indigenous Peoples in this place called the United States. The movement to tell richer, fuller and more truthful narratives about U.S. histories in this way began in 1977 at a United Nations conference. Today, several states, counties and municipalities across the country are acknowledging the suffering and resiliency, as well as the tremendous contributions of indigenous communities to the development of the United States of America.
If we are to ever become the society we fantasize ourselves to be, we must embrace the unearthing of uncomfortable truths that have been our past and present. We must use opportunities like today to learn what we have buried deep, or purposefully ignored and begin to develop a “common memory”for U.S. society, as a scholar and spiritual healer Mark Charles advocates. There are many reading lists to begin our un/learning and here are just a few:
- https://indigenoushistory.wordpress.com/reading-list/
- https://notevenpast.org/new-books-in-native-american-and-indigenous-studies-you-need-to-read-on-indigenous-peoples-day/
- https://www.nypl.org/blog/2020/10/09/honoring-indigenous-peoples-recommended-reads
The Truth and Conciliation Commission is committed to helping the peoples of the United States navigate the necessary un/learnings that we must do ignorer to know, speak and live the truth of who we are and becoming. Please, share the resources that are provided, support our growth, and join us in future learning opportunities and direct actions.
To financially support the growth and work of the TCC please visit https://truthandconciliation.org/donate/