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Federally recognize Indigenous Peoples Day, Kentucky has [1]
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Date: 2023-05-10
Angela Arnett Garner, Indigenous Rights Activist
If members of congress, particularly Republicans, were aware of the overwhelming support in a staunchly conservative, republican state like Kentucky, for the Indigenous Peoples Day movement, they may just vote this year in favor of the federal recognition of this holiday celebrating the history and culture of Native Americans. In 2017, the small town of Stanford, nestled in the foothills of Appalachia, became the first city to recognize Indigenous Peoples Day in Kentucky history. Shortly after, the first such celebration in state history, commenced at the town's historic Courthouse on Main Street, an ironically fitting place to attempt to provide justice for our original inhabitants. The court room upstairs filled up with TV cameras, local residents, and visitors who traveled from as far away as Tennessee, Indiana, and Washington D.C. Since that time, 24 additional proclamations have been passed in cities large and small across Kentucky-- more than any other state since the movement began in 1992. In 2018, the Kentucky League of Cities who represent over 270 cities statewide, passed an IPD proclamation, resulting in the first time a civic organization having done so in U.S. history. Starting in 2020, Governor Andy Beshear has signed three statewide Indigenous Peoples Day proclamations. In 2021 two Republican legislators, Representative David Meade, Speaker Pro Tempore and Senator Rick Girdler, passed two resolutions which permanently recognize and celebrate Indigenous peoples day in Kentucky. This Commonwealth remains one of only a handful of states to have done so, even though Kentucky has the smallest Indigenous population of any of them. If the Indigenous Peoples Day movement can garner support in a staunchly conservative state like Kentucky, (Senator McConnell's and Rand Paul's constituency), then it is time finally to celebrate the rich history and culture of Native Americans by federally recognizing Indigenous Peoples Day. Please call your members of congress and advocate for this important cause. If you are a member of the media, please write about this. If the Indigenous Peoples Day movement can garner widespread support in conservative Kentucky, it is time for federal recognition.
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