HomeMy WebLinkAboutNovember 2024 Native American Heritage Month and DayPROCLAMATION
Native American Heritage Month & Native American Heritage Day
Minnesota has been home to Indigenous Peoples for over 10,000 years. The state has eleven
Tribal Nations and a resilient urban Native American community. The Dakota and
Anishinaabe peoples, alongside other Indigenous nations such as the Ho -Chunk, Cheyenne,
Oto, Iowa, Hidatsa, and Arikara, are central to this history and our future. These lands are
vital to their heritage and connect us to Minnesota's more profound story.
Native American communities across the U.S. and the First Nations of Canada have enriched
Minnesota's social, cultural, and economic landscape. Indigenous values continue to inspire
movements for environmental stewardship, human rights, and cultural diversity.
Our history also holds a legacy of broken promises and hardship for Indigenous communities.
Confronting this past is essential as we work to eliminate systemic racism and discrimination.
Minnesota recently updated its state flag and seal, removing colonial imagery. The new design
includes 98 golden bars, symbolizing the state's 87 counties and 11 federally recognized
American Indian Tribes, alongside the Dakota phrase "Mni S6ta Makoce," meaning "Land of
the sky -tinted water."
As Mayor of Columbia Heights, I, Amdda Mdrquez Simula, proclaim November 2024 as
Native American Heritage Month. I encourage all residents to celebrate the rich heritage of
Indigenous communities. Additionally, November 29, 2024, is recognized as Native American
Heritage Day, honoring the enduring legacy of Native peoples in our community and state.
r
ada Airquei"Ia, Mayor
November 12, 2024