Happy Nat'l American Indian Day (9/27)

American Indian Day is observed on the fourth Friday of September every year. This year, it is celebrated today, Friday, Sept. 27th.

Although this is one of the most important days in the U.S., Native American Day is a public holiday or official state observance only in some states.

However, it has been steadily growing in scope and popularity. Something important is that some states celebrate this day on the second Monday of October.

History of American Indian Day

The people were more colorful than the land, but we would never know that from old photos.

As the name implies, Indigenous or Native American Day is an opportunity to celebrate, learn, and share information about the traditions, culture, and background of Native Americans [as well as your own alleged Cherokee blood].

If one is wondering who "Native Americans" are [the best American writer on the subject is Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz]. They are the descendants of the aboriginal, indigenous people who were the original First Nations inhabitants of what is now called the United States of America, which is a continent with many other countries.

• Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz's Indigenous Peoples History (Paul Peart-Smith)
• An Afro-Indigenous History of the United States
• Amazon.com: Asian American Histories of the United States
• ORIGINAL: An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States

The term "Native Americans" encompass hundreds of different tribes, from the Inuit (Eskimos) of Alaska to the Cherokees of the southeastern woodlands to the Dine (Navajos) of the Southwest, all the way up to the Kizh (Tongva) of Los Angeles and their neighbors the "Beautiful People" (Chumash) of Malibu, LA islands, and Ventura.

Each of these tribes has its own unique culture and language [on the west many related to the Ute Aztecan and on the east many related to Algonquin].

Native Americans have made distinct and significant contributions to the U.S.A. and the rest of the world in many fields, such as medicine, agriculture, music, language, and art.

Throughout history, they have distinguished themselves as inventors, entrepreneurs, spiritual leaders [shamans and medicine women], and scholars.

In 1998, Native American Day was officially declared a state holiday. In 1990, South Dakota proclaimed this day a year of reconciliation between Native Americans and Caucasian [settler colonial] populations.

South Dakota did this by changing ignominious "Columbus Day" to Indigenous Peoples' Day or "Native American Day."

This day aims at celebrating the irreplaceable heritage, contributions, and knowledge of the massive Native American population.

What about the pre-Indians buried here?

It is also a day to commemorate the enduring legacy of their fortitude, energy, and strength [in the face of repeated humiliations, treaty betrayals, and an ongoing slow genocide conducted by the government with collusion by the larger population].

Native American Day is also about appreciating the long history of culture and traditions that Native Americans have preserved through the centuries. More

• NtionalToday.com, 9/27/24; Xochitl, Ashley Wells, Dhr. Seven (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly