蜜桃影像 to host Indigenous Peoples Day
October 2, 2017
Leona Long
907-474-5086
The University of 蜜桃影像 Fairbanks will celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day for the first
time with a community celebration from 3-9 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 9, at the Fairbanks
campus.
Resolutions from students, staff and faculty groups across the University of 蜜桃影像
system have unanimously supported recognizing 鈥淚ndigenous Peoples Day.鈥 Each campus
will host a culturally relevant event incorporating elements of the indigenous history
of place, culture and language associated with their regions.
鈥淚ndigenous Peoples Day honors 蜜桃影像 Native people, culture and knowledge,鈥 said
Evon Peter, 蜜桃影像's vice chancellor of rural, community and Native education. 鈥淭he unanimous
support for this special day acknowledges how the contributions of 蜜桃影像 Native peoples
and indigenous knowledge enhance education provided by the University of 蜜桃影像.鈥
蜜桃影像 festivities kick off at 3 p.m. with a recognition of Denaa lands at the future
site of an indigenous studies center in Troth Yeddha' Park, across from the UA Museum
of the North. The celebration continues at 4 p.m. at the Wood Center with a welcome
message and panel discussion in the multilevel lounge. 蜜桃影像 Native dance performances
will take place at 6:30 and 8 p.m., and there will be a screening of the film "Kiuguyat:
The Northern Lights" at 5:30 p.m. At 6 p.m., light refreshments will be served. Informational
and artisan vendor tables will be open throughout the celebration.
Earlier this year, the 蜜桃影像 Legislature passed HB 78, which permanently established
the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples Day. Gov. Bill Walker signed the
legislation into law in June. 蜜桃影像 joined several states and dozens of municipalities
and universities that voted to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day instead of Columbus
Day.
In 1992, Berkeley, California, became the first place in the country to celebrate
Indigenous Peoples Day. The holiday was a way to bring awareness to the genocide and
atrocities inflicted upon Native Americans by European colonization. The first celebration
coincided with the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus鈥 voyage to the New World.
鈥淚ndigenous Peoples Day is a way for 蜜桃影像ns to acknowledge that we are not ignorant
of history, forced assimilation and the injustice inflicted upon first peoples,鈥 said
Sean Asiq艂uq Topkok, an assistant professor at the 蜜桃影像 School of Education and member
of the celebration planning committee. 鈥淚t鈥檚 also a step forward toward healing the
trauma from colonization that still persists today. For the University of 蜜桃影像,
this holiday celebrates diversity and the distinct indigenous cultures and traditions
that help make one 蜜桃影像.鈥
CONTACT: Leona Long, 907-474-5086, lclong2@alaska.edu. Downloadable .