The vibrant colors of autumn are not the only significant event that October brings to the United States. For on the second Monday of the month, many celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day, a day that serves as a reminder of Native American history, their contributions, and the painful past they endured.
Why the USA Celebrates Indigenous Peoples Day:
The significance of Indigenous Peoples Day emerged as a counter-celebration to Columbus Day. While Columbus Day commemorates the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas, it overlooks the often violent history of colonization that severely impacted Native Americans. Hence, in 2021, the Biden administration declared the day as Indigenous Peoples Day. Its celebration intends to honor Native Americans, recognize their contributions, and shed light on the hardships they’ve faced over centuries.
How the USA Celebrates the Day:
Indigenous Peoples Day isn’t just about remembering the past; it’s about celebrating the vibrant Native American culture that still thrives today. Many might not realize, but the culinary legacy of Native Americans is quite profound.
The next time you relish a Mexican dish, remember that the staples like corn, beans, tomatoes, chocolate, and chilies have their roots in Native American cuisine. These foods, now essential in various dishes around the world, are a testament to Native American contributions.
It’s also notable how cranberries, a quintessential part of the Thanksgiving feast, have been a part of Native American diet long before Pilgrims set foot in North America. Today, regions like Wisconsin still thrive on the legacy left behind by indigenous people, like the cranberry marshes that echo the past and present of Native American agriculture.
Indigenous Peoples Day Worldwide:
While the USA has its specific way of observing Indigenous Peoples Day, other countries like Canada, Brazil, and Australia have their own versions of celebrations to honor their native people. Each country’s indigenous communities have distinct histories, cultures, and challenges which these celebrations aim to acknowledge.
Why India Should Celebrate a Similar Day:
India, with its rich tapestry of ethnicities and cultures, is home to various indigenous communities known as ‘Adivasis’ or ‘Tribals’. Like Native Americans, they too have a vast reservoir of cultural knowledge, ecological wisdom, and traditional practices. Celebrating a day for India’s indigenous people would not only honor their contributions but also highlight their unique challenges in the face of modernization.
Understanding the Painful Past of Native Americans:
While Indigenous Peoples Day is a celebration, it’s also a grim reminder of the violence that Native Americans faced at the hands of colonizers. The violent practices of scalping, where the human scalp was forcibly removed, is an epitome of the atrocities faced by them.
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It’s a misconception that scalping was only an indigenous practice. In reality, white settlers often scalped Native Americans as a trophy or to claim bounties. This brutal practice is an example of the extent of violence that the Native community faced, a history that cannot and should not be ignored.
States like California have acknowledged their violent past towards Indigenous communities and initiated efforts to heal old wounds. Such steps aim to recognize the wrongdoings of the past and ensure they aren’t forgotten.
As autumn leaves rustle in the USA, Indigenous Peoples Day serves as an opportunity to celebrate, remember, and learn. It’s a day to savor Native American food, music, art, and more. It’s also a day to reflect upon the resilience of a community that has faced centuries of challenges, yet continues to thrive and contribute immensely to the fabric of the nation.
While countries around the world have their indigenous celebrations, India, with its diverse tribal heritage, could also benefit from such a day – not just to honor the Adivasis but to ensure that their stories, wisdom, and challenges become a part of the national narrative.
In this age of globalization, it’s more vital than ever to remember our roots, to understand our history with all its beauty and pain, and to ensure that stories of indigenous communities, their struggles, and their contributions, are never forgotten.
