“Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492,” or however that stupid propaganda schoolhouse jingle went.
Born in Columbus, Ohio, and raised in Georgia, I have heard various narratives of what took place after 1492. Suffice it to say, he did not land where he thought he did, but destroyed the lives and land of the indigenous communities everywhere they went. We won’t spend too much time on him because this day is not about him. Here at BLK Alerts, we will forever say F*** Christopher Columbus.
We were not perfect, but we had no jails, we had no taxes…no wine and no beer, no old peoples’ homes, no children’s aid society, we had no crisis centres. We had a philosophy of life based on the Creator. We had our humanity.
– Art Solomon, Songs for the People: Teachings on the Natural Way
Today, on Indigenous Peoples Day, we encourage everyone to learn more about Indigenous communities and traditions. Learn more about the Land Back movement and what it truly entails on stolen land in various places, including its potential to save our planet, not just in the (dis)United States, but globally. Learn about the Indigenous women and children being kidnapped, undercounted, and not discussed in any mainstream media. Shift from colonial language. For example, I had a couple of professors in restorative justice who referred to their ancestors as settlers in Canada… I quickly argued this language down, stating they were indeed colonizers. They may have never used a finger to dig the mass graves of Indigenous peoples, but they absolutely colonized the land made fertile over their bones.
May the stars carry your sadness away,
May the flowers fill your heart with beauty,
May hope forever wipe away your tears,
And, above all, may silence make you strong.– Chief Dan George
Every day is an opportunity to further away from the acceptance of the propaganda and culture wars fed to us. So, if you don’t do anything else today, read or watch something to learn something new about Indigenous culture. And then find a way to advocate and share the information you gain. Below are some great resources to watch and read today and beyond, in addition to the resources linked in this letter.
Resources:
The Ancient Tribes That Settled the Americas | First Peoples | Full Episode 1 | PBS (Reposted from 2015)
Introduction to Native American History: Ep 1 of Crash Course Native American History (Watch the whole series!)
Lakota Nation vs. United States | Official Website
First Nations Version New Testament An Indigenous Translation of the New Testament
Must-Read Books by Indigenous Authors | Penguin Random House (Includes kid-friendly reads)
21 New Books By Native American Writers – Goodreads News & Interviews
Braiding Sweetgrass | Milkweed Editions
