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For Indigenous peoples, Thanksgiving is a time of remembering the genocide and colonization that occurred against their ancestors. On the fourth Thursday of November, many Native peoples observe a national day of mourning. Non-Indigenous individuals are also expected to show their solidarity with the Indigenous people of the country.

It has been many years since the idea of establishing a day to honor and recognize Indigenous peoples has been brought up. The first Indigenous Peoples Day was established in Berkeley, California, on October 12, 1992. It replaced the holiday known as Christopher Columbus Day.

Over the years, various cities and non-governmental organizations have started to establish Indigenous Peoples Day as a national holiday while also showing solidarity with Indigenous peoples when Thanksgiving rolls around. It is clear that replacing Columbus Day with a day dedicated to honoring and celebrating the Indigenous people of the country is a step in the right direction. However, it is still not enough to establish a comprehensive national resolution to address the injustices that have been done against the Indigenous people of the country.

How to Support Indigenous Peoples

To fully realize the significance of recognizing the Indigenous people of the country, it is important that we think and act beyond one or two days a year. This is because the process of healing and dismantling the systemic racism and colonial oppression that has been done against them will not be completed in a single day. Instead, it is important that our allies come together to resolve the issues that have been faced by the Indigenous people.

One of the most important steps that we can take to support the healing and dismantling of the trauma and violence that have been done against the Indigenous people is by changing our behaviors. This can be done through the challenge of our allies’ pre-existing biases. This starts by breaking down the harmful stereotypes and language used against the Indigenous people. 

Despite the various cultural and linguistic resources that exist within the Indigenous community, it is still important that we continue to talk about the issues that have been faced by Indigenous peoples. This is because the negative portrayal of the Indigenous people continues to reinforce the discrimination and racism that still exist in the country.

Despite the various obstacles that have been faced by the Indigenous peoples of the country, they have still managed to remain resilient. As we look toward the future, it is important that we continue to focus on the development of effective and resilient leadership and Indigenous rights in the country. 

For example, in recent years, discussions of the Keystone XL pipeline brought the concerns of Indigenous peoples to the limelight, calling on the American government to honor their sovereignty and respect their land. The unfinished pipeline quickly became a controversial subject, as it broke the shaky trust many Native Americans had in the United States government and would have caused a lot of pain to the elders who see their land as sacred.

As social justice movements continue to engage in conversations about climate, racial, and social justice, it is important that we include Indigenous peoples in these discussions. Instead of focusing on caucasian people as the main participants in the discussion about decolonization and other social justice topics, it is important that we start by talking about the issues that have been faced by Indigenous peoples. This can be done through the building of trust and reciprocal relationships.