Some cities across the U.S. are marking the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples Day. Indigenous People are “inheritors and practitioners of unique cultures and ways of relating to people and the environment. They have retained social, cultural, economic and political characteristics that are distinct from those of the dominant societies in which they live. Despite their cultural differences, indigenous peoples from around the world share common problems related to the protection of their rights as distinct peoples” (Quoted from the following United Nations Website: https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/about-us.html). Like other marginalized groups, indigenous people have lost many rights, including the right to their lands.
Photo of celebrations from the article “Indigenous Peoples’ Day: The Unofficial, Columbus-Free Celebration” Photo Credit: Jeremy Dennis/The New York Times.
Above photo of celebrations from the article “Indigenous Peoples’ Day: The Unofficial, Columbus-Free Celebration.”
Click on below link to read about Indigenous Peoples Day.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/14/nyregion/indigenous-day.html
Every year since the 1600s many Native American Tribes have been struggling to get their ancestral lands back. With the help of others, a few have been successful.
Photo of land returned to Esselen Tribe from the article “After 250 years, Native American tribe regains ownership of Big Sur ancestral lands.” Photo Credit: Doug Steakley/Western Rivers
Above photo of land returned to Esselen Tribe from the article “After 250 years, Native American tribe regains ownership of Big Sur ancestral lands.”
Click on below link to read about the return of land to the Esselen Tribe in 2020.
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/native-american-tribe-big-sur-ancestral-lands-trnd/index.html
Separated from their land since 1860, the Wiyot Tribe with the help of concerned locals from neighboring communities were able to get their land back in 2019.
Photo of Wiyot Tribe members paddling near their land from the article “Indigenous people across the US want their land back — and the movement is gaining momentum.” Photo Credit: Ben Margot/AP.
Above photo of Wiyot Tribe members paddling near their land from the article “Indigenous people across the US want their land back — and the movement is gaining momentum.”
Click on below link to read about the return of Duluwat Island to the Wiyot Tribe.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/25/us/indigenous-people-reclaiming-their-lands-trnd/index.html
Photo of International Indigenous Expert Group Meeting at the United Nations in 2019 to discuss “Peace, justice and strong institutions: the role of indigenous peoples in implementing Sustainable Development Goal 16.” Photo Credit: UN Website.
Above photo of International Indigenous Expert Group Meeting at the United Nations in 2019 to discuss “Peace, justice and strong institutions: the role of indigenous peoples in implementing Sustainable Development Goal 16.”
All around the world, the same struggles are emerging. Indigenous People are rising up and reclaiming their rights to their native lands. The United Nations has been focusing on international indigenous issues since 2002. Click on below link to read about the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/
While the above stories of returned lands display some type of justice, there is still much more land in the US and globally that should be and eventually will be returned to the rightful owners.
Written by Shireen Musa