Indigenous People's Day
10/13/2015 10:00:00 AM - Tribal Observer

At last night’s Mount Pleasant City Commission meeting, Mayor Jim Holton declared the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

            The proclamation states, “The City supports that Indigenous Peoples’ Day be used to reflect upon the ongoing struggles of indigenous people on this land and to celebrate the thriving culture and value that the Saginaw Chippewa and other indigenous peoples add to our city and community.

            Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Chief Steven Pego and his wife Mae performed a special drum song to commence the meeting.

            Following the proclamation from Holton, Chief Pego shared some words.

            “If more people started working with their hearts, the world wouldn’t be a bad place to live,” he said.

            Along with the Pego’s, Public Relations Director Frank Cloutier and Ziibiwing Director Shannon Martin were present.

            In 2010, the state of Michigan, Isabella County, and the City of Mount Pleasant recognized the official boundaries of the Isabella Indian Reservation through a historic set of agreements, and these agreements amicably settled long-standing Indian Country jurisdictional issues and are now considered model agreements for the rest of the country.

            The proclamation follows a resolution passed by Tribal Council in September 2014, advising the city to recognize Indigenous Peoples Day in replacement of the widely-known Columbus Day.

            Last year, the city offered the first Indigenous Peoples’ Day proclamation for the day on Oct. 13, 2014.