Monday is the first official Indigenous People’s Day in Montgomery County since its founding, which dates back to Sept. of 1776.
Montgomery County councilmember Nancy Navarro initiated a resolution in July that would recognize the second Monday in October as Indigenous People’s Day, replacing what many consider to be problematic Columbus Day. The resolution notes that Christopher Columbus committed numerous crimes against indigenous communities, including slavery, rape and genocide.
The resolution passed unanimously.
Navarro will present a proclamation at a council meeting this Tuesday, Oct.13
The move was a step forward to create a more equitable and representative of the county’s identity, Navarro wrote in her Twitter account.
“While we can’t change the past, we can incorporate previously silenced voices into our historical narrative and set future generations on a different path,” She wrote.
To date, seven states officially have replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous People’s day, and seven others have observed via proclamations, CNN reported. But Maryland is not one of those states. The resolution called on the Maryland General Assembly to adopt the day as an official state holiday.
Additionally, the council urged Montgomery County Public Schools to better incorporate Native American history, narratives and cultures into the curriculum.
Montgomery County joins the City of Takoma Park, Prince George’s County, Washington, D.C., and Alexandria as some of the jurisdictions in the area that recognize Indigenous People’s Day.
Today is an important moment in our County’s journey. For the first time in our history, Montgomery County recognizes today as #IndigenousPeoplesDay. This moment comes as a result of a resolution which I spearheaded, and was passed unanimously by the Council on July 28. pic.twitter.com/GfCMyTGWxC
— Nancy Navarro (@nancy_navarro) October 12, 2020
