City of Iowa City Declares October 9 as Indigenous Peoples' Day // Updated: Johnson County Board of Supervisors Also Proclaim October 9 as Indigenous Peoples Day

(Originally written on 10/04/17): Iowa City is the latest in a series of Iowa-based communities to sign a proclamation declaring October 9th as Indigenous Peoples' Day instead of Columbus Day.

At last night's City of Iowa City Council Meeting, Mayor Jim Throgmorton signed off on the following proclamation:

City of Iowa City

Proclamation

Whereas, the City of Iowa City recognizes that the Indigenous Peoples of the lands that would later become known as the Americas have occupied these lands since time immemorial; and

Whereas, the City recognizes the fact that Iowa City is built upon the homelands and villages of the Indigenous Peoples of this region; and

Whereas, the City is dedicated to opposing systemic racism towards Indigenous people, which perpetuates high rates of poverty and income inequality, exacerbating disproportionate health, education, and social crises; and

Whereas, Indigenous Poeples' 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, the City strongly supports the preposition that Indigenous People's Day shall be an opportunity to celebrate the thriving cultures and values of the Indigenous Peoples of the region; and

Whereas, the City strongly encourages schools to include the teaching of Indigenous Peoples' history in its curriculum and encourages other businesses, organizations, and institutions to recognize Indigenous Peoples' Day;

Now, Therefore, I, Janes A. Throgmorton, Mayor of Iowa City, do hereby declare October 9, as Indigenous People's Day in Iowa City.

Updated on 10/05/17: Earlier today, the Johnson County Board of Supervisors unanimous voted to proclaim October 9, 2017, at Indigenous Peoples Day:

Proclamation: Indigenous Peoples Day
October 9, 2017

Whereas, Johnson County recognizes that the Indigenous Peoples of the lands that would later become known as the Americas have occupied these lands since time immemorial; and 

Whereas, Johnson County recognizes the genocide and opposes the systemic racism practiced toward Indigenous Peoples in the United States, which perpetuates high rates of poverty and income inequality, exacerbates disproportionate negative health and education outcomes, and weakens social stabililty; and

Whereas, Indigenous Poeples' Day was first proposed in 1977 at the United Nations-sponsored International Conference on Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations in the Americas; and

Whereas, the United States endorsed the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples on December 16, 2010, and the Declaration recognizes that "indigenous peoples have suffered from historic injustices as a result of... their colonization and dispossession of their lands, territories and resources"; and

Whereas, Johnson County recognizes the value of many contributions made to our community through Indigenous Peoples' knowledge, labor, spirituality, technology, science, philosophy, arts and the deep cultural contribution that shaped this country's character.

Now, Therefore, be it resolved that we, the Johnson County Board of Supervisors, do hereby proclaim October 9, 2017, to be: Indigenous Peoples Day in Johnson County, Iowa, and urge all citizens to reflect upon the ongoing struggles of Indigenous Peoples and to celebrate the thriving culture and value that Indigenous Peoples founded on this land long before the creation of this state and the United States of America.