Title
Special Recognition - Proclamation Recognizing Indigenous Peoples' Day
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Proclaim October 9, 2023 as Indigenous Peoples' Day in the City of Olympia.
Report
Issue:
Whether to proclaim October 9, 2023 as Indigenous Peoples' Day in the City of Olympia.
Staff Contact:
Olivia Salazar de Breaux, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Specialist, Olympia Parks, Arts and Recreation Department, 360.753.8343.
Presenter(s):
Squaxin Island Tribe Council representatives and community members
Background and Analysis:
Indigenous Peoples' Day was first proposed in 1977 by a delegation of Native Nations to the United Nations sponsored International Conference on the Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations in the Americas. It is a day to recognize and celebrate Indigenous heritage, culture, and history while honoring past, current and future generations. The City of Olympia urges all residents to become more aware of the significance of this celebration and its role in the heritage of our nation and City.
The Squaxin Island Tribe's habitation of what is now Olympia spans thousands of years. The ancestral families who lived and thrived here named it Steh-Chass and occupied prosperous villages along the shores. Today, the Squaxin people continue stewardship of these ancestral lands, from the Deschutes watershed and what is now Budd Inlet. The Squaxin Island Tribe and City of Olympia honor the Medicine Creek Treaty and have established a strong government-to-government relationship between the two sovereigns.
Climate Analysis:
This recognition raises awareness about the importance of protecting natural resources and responding to climate change.
Equity Analysis:
This recognition raises awareness about the contributions and achievements made by generations of Indigenous people here in the Pacific Northwest and across the nation. This recognition benefits Olympia resid...
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