Indigenous People’s Day 2018

“As a group, the Buder Scholars have been honoring Indigenous Peoples Day for years.  To now have this day recognized by the larger Brown School community shows the impact the Buder Scholars are having as well as the dedication of the Brown School to making real and lasting change.  I am proud to be an alum of both the Buder Scholars program and the Brown School as we commit ourselves to being a community of change makers.”

“Indigenous People’s Day is an important step to reclaiming our power. It’s acknowledging the past, but more importantly giving hope and shifting focus to the future of our Indigenous communities, honoring our ancestors and thinking about the next seven generations. As G. M. Davis said, ‘If we ever have no other testimony, we still have this one: We’re still here.’”

“It is a day to commemorate our elders and ancestors of the numerous sacrifices and experiences endured. Now, it is our time to defend and reclaim our history that once was not told correctly. We are still standing, we are resilient, and we will forever be here.”

“Indigenous People’s Day is very important as it puts the focus on the honest and truthful side of this day. Indigenous Day brings dignity and respect to the history and stories of the original People of this land.”

“It is important to give credit where it is due, to honor our ancestors who looked after and cared for this land and to understand without their resilience this country would not exist.”

“Indigenous People’s Day is about embracing the history and voices of the original people of this nation. It’s about recognizing the injustices our people have lived through and bringing awareness to truths rarely told in written history.”

“It must be known that Christopher Columbus did not found the United States. The changing of Columbus Day to Indigenous People’s day is the first step to restoring America’s true history and honoring the first peoples of this nation.”

“We must correct the continual erasing of original people’s history and claim to this land.”

“Changing the name to Indigenous People’s Day is a way to decolonize ourselves and take back our power and identity.”

“The changing to Indigenous People’s Day is crucial for our youth. Our next generation must be empowered and encouraged to continue the resilience of our ancestors.”