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Local tribal dancers help move the celebration of Indigenous People’s Day down the South Oval Oct. 12, 2015. The proposal to change Columbus Day to Indigenous People’s Day was signed by Student Government Association President Alex Byron and OU President David Boren.
HONORING HERITAGE Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebrates Native culture
O
U will celebrate its second annual Indigenous Peoples’ Day Oct. 10 with a day of events and celebration from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Almost exactly one year ago, OU President David Boren and former Student Government Ass ociation president Alex Byron signed a proposal to deem the second Monday of every October Indigenous Peoples’ Day, an action that ushered in both praise and scrutiny from the OU community. The effort to get Indigenous Peoples’ Day recognized began three semesters ago, but a lot has changed since it was first celebrated on campus. In the past year, OU has elevated the former Native American Studies Program to its own department, established the Native Nations Center and created a Tribal Liaison position. Additionally, the enrollment of freshmen Native American students has increased 11 percent. However, Justin Tiger, a chemical engineering sophomore and president of the American Indian Student Association at OU, said he thinks there is progress still to be made. “It’s not perfect by any means, but it’s going to get better. I think we’re on the right route. I don’t think this is something where you flip a switch and say, ‘All these programs are 100 percent inclusive,” he said. Apollonia Piña, a senior in cross-cultural epistemologies in science and math, was the lead organizer of this year’s and last year’s Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebrations. She said this year
ANDREW CLARK • @CLARKY_TWEETS
she wants to challenge people’s perceptions about indigeneity. “We’re going to have more of (other groups’) perspectives this year,” she said. “I wanted that last year, but we were kind of so rag-tag last minute that I didn’t quite get to plan that, but I really tried to have that be one of the focal points of this year. So when we do our grand entry procession, you’re going to see not just tribal flags, but way more flags of countries representing Mexico, Central America, South America and any other indigenous flags south of the border, if you will, for them.” Traditionally, the second Monday of October represents Columbus Day, which recognizes Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the Americas, which were already inhabited by indigenous peoples. Critics of Columbus Day argue that the holiday masks Columbus’ killing of thousands of indigenous peoples. The Oklahoma City Council has also voted down the observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day for two consecutive years. Jabar Shumate, OU ’s vice president for the university community, said Columbus Day has never had a strong meaning to him, but that he is glad OU has used Columbus Day as an opportunity to understand the university’s and Oklahoma’s connection with Native Americans. “I’m glad that as some may find Columbus Day offensive, that we were able to create a positive opportunity for people to come together,” he said. N i c o l a s Ju a r e z , a Na t i v e American studies and social work junior who is involved in Indigenize OU, said Columbus
CELEBRATE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ DAY
MONDAY, OCTOBER 10
9:30 a.m.
Grand Entry Procession
From Dale Hall to The Bizzell statue South Oval
Immediately after Procession Official Remarks
UNIVERSITY OFFICIALS The Bizzell statue, South Oval
10-11:30 a.m. NOOR EEMAAN/THE DAILY
President David Boren claps as Native American activist Sarah AdamsCornell exits the stage during Indigenous Peoples’ Day Oct. 12, 2015. The festivities for this year’s Indigenous Peoples’ Day are Monday.
Day is a holiday that speaks violence. He also said he thinks that since the observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day last year at OU, the campus climate has worsened. “Or maybe it hasn’t gotten worse, it’s just become more visible,” he said. “None of these (changes that have occurred in the past year) change the fact that faculty say the word ‘redskins’ to students in the class ... or the way that white professors characterize Native peoples as primitive upon contact or uncivilized or even continue to characterize them that way.” For Piña, Indigenous Peoples’ Day has a significant meaning.
“It’s important to see Indigenous Peoples’ Day as indigenous people — that’s not just people in North America — and we’re still a thriving culture.” APOLLONIA PIÑA, SENIOR IN CROSS-CULTURAL EPISTEMOLOGIES IN SCIENCE AND MATH
“ I t ’s i m p o r t a n t t o s e e Indigenous Peoples’ Day as indigenous people — that’s not just people in North America — and we’re still a thriving culture,” she said. “We still participate in our ceremonies and speak our languages, and they may easily forget history, but we do not easily forget history. We seek to try to be informative of that. The history of Christopher Columbus is just so wrong and false for a lot of reasons.” Boren said in a statement to The Daily that he is proud OU is one of the universities in the U.S. that recognizes Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and that OU resolves “to continue to work together for even more progress in the future.” D a n a B ra n h a m a n d D ai s y Creager contributed to this report. Andrew Clark
andrewclark@ou.edu
Cultural Events and Informational Tables South Oval
Noon
Lunch and Lectures DR. LINDSAY ROBERTSON & DR. KYLE POWYS WHYTE (CITIZEN POTAWATOMI)
Gaylord Library; Limited Seating; First come, first serve
1:30 p.m.
Stickball Presentation South Oval
6 p.m.
Evening Celebration
BLESSING AND REMARKS BY CHIEF GORDON YELLOWMAN (CHEYENNE/ARAPAHO) DR. ROBERT CON DAVIS-UNDIANO
Jacobson House
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