Learn How Young Activists Are Helping Native Populations On Indigenous Peoples’ Day

10/04/2021 in
Learn How Young Activists Are Helping Native Populations On Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Young activists have been critical in shifting attention away from Columbus Day — a federal holiday many associate with genocide and colonization — and toward Indigenous Peoples’ Day. The latter, also observed on the second Monday in October, moves the focus toward the native populations that were affected by colonization. Those struggles continue today, and you can learn what young activists are doing about it at an upcoming panel at the National Museum of the American Indian (1 Bowling Green). 

The Smithsonian museum’s location at the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House is honoring this year’s Indigenous Peoples’ Day with a special program focused on youth in action. The free online event, titled ”Black-Indigenous Youth Advancing Social Justice,” will take place on Monday, October 11 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., and will look at how Black-Indigenous youth are working to advance social justice through art, activism and policy. 

The panel will be moderated by Amber Starks (who is African American and Muscogee [Creek]), with panelists that include Joy SpearChief-Morris (who is African American and Kainai Blood Tribe), Kyle T. Mays (Black and Saginaw Chippewa) and Autumn Rose Williams (Black and Shinnecock). Learn more about the panelists here

This panel is part of the museum’s “Youth in Action: Conversations about Our Future” series, which highlights young Native activists who are working towards equity and social justice for Indigenous peoples.  

Register for the event here

photo: David Sundberg/NMAI

Tags: indigenous peoples day, nmai

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