As we acknowledge Indigenous Peoples’ Day, I am mindful of the price our people have paid to get here. For centuries, the United States government implemented policies that sought to displace and systematically erase Native Americans, including the Cherokee Nation. In the face of these hateful policies, however, our people persevered.
And there is no question that momentum is on our side. The Supreme Court’s 2020 McGirt decision upheld and protected tribal sovereignty. There are now a record number of Native Americans representing us in Washington, D.C. And last year, President Joe Biden became the first president to issue a presidential proclamation marking Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
Read Full Article »