Indigenous Peoples' Day Grand Marais

I returned yesterday to my beloved town after spending about 2 weeks on a working vacation out in North Dakota. As beautiful as it is, there is truly NO PLACE LIKE HOME!

As I tried to settle in, I read some of the news of the past few weeks and reflected on all of the commentary I have heard concerning Indigenous Peoples Day and the honoring of those people who came before us and first inhabited this area, laying down a foundational culture that we still rely on today.

With that said, and with my limited ability to impact this situation, I would like to make the following proclamation:

PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, the City of Grand Marais recognizes that the Indigenous Peoples of the lands that would later become known as the Americas have occupied these lands since time immemorial; and

WHEREAS, the City of Grand Marais recognizes that Grand Marais is built upon and shares the homelands and villages of the Indigenous Peoples of this region, without whose knowledge, labor, technology, science, philosophy, arts, and deep cultural contribution the building of the City and the City’s character would not have been possible; and

WHEREAS, the City of Grand Marais has a responsibility to oppose the systemic racism and misunderstanding towards Indigenous People in the United States, which perpetuates poverty and income inequality, and erodes access to health, education, and social stability; and

WHEREAS, Indigenous Peoples’ Day was first proposed in 1977 by a delegation of Native Nations to the United Nations sponsored International Conference on Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations in the Americas;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that I, Jay Arrowsmith DeCoux, Mayor of the City of Grand Marais, do hereby proclaim the following:

Section 1. The Indigenous Peoples’ Day shall be an opportunity to celebrate the thriving cultures and positive values of the Indigenous Peoples of our region.

Section 2. The Cook County Public Schools and other educational institutions are encouraged to recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

Section 3. The businesses, organizations, and public institutions are encouraged to recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

Section 4. Indigenous Peoples’ Day shall be used to reflect upon the ongoing struggles of Indigenous People, and to celebrate the thriving culture and value that Indigenous nations add to our city.

Section 5. The second Monday in October shall be declared as Indigenous Peoples’ Day in the City of Grand Marais.

SIGNED IN THE CITY OF GRAND MARAIS, MINNESOTA, THIS 5TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2015.

Jay Arrowsmith DeCoux

Mayor