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Native American Heritage Day....
This fall, legislation was passed and signed declaring the Friday after Thanksgiving as Native American Heritage Day.
This is something that has been long overdue. We, as a people, have mistreated the indigenous people of North America for many years -- taking their land, appropriating their resources, mocking their customs. It is time to start undoing the damage. And that means more than showing up and gambling at their casinos.
Personally, I'd like to see this become a federal holiday. Government offices, post offices, and banks are still open today.
As one of my colleages -- Rev. Three Feathers -- recently said, we should use this day to reflect on our own heritage. Mine's Italian (on my father's side) and Polish (on my mother's side). I'm familiar with many of the Italian traditions (and foods!), as we practiced them in our home. But I don't know many of the Polish traditions.
This is something that has been long overdue. We, as a people, have mistreated the indigenous people of North America for many years -- taking their land, appropriating their resources, mocking their customs. It is time to start undoing the damage. And that means more than showing up and gambling at their casinos.
Personally, I'd like to see this become a federal holiday. Government offices, post offices, and banks are still open today.
As one of my colleages -- Rev. Three Feathers -- recently said, we should use this day to reflect on our own heritage. Mine's Italian (on my father's side) and Polish (on my mother's side). I'm familiar with many of the Italian traditions (and foods!), as we practiced them in our home. But I don't know many of the Polish traditions.