“Untitled” from Governor and Tribal Leaders Summit 2022, Office of Governor Tim Walz & Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan, is in the public domain.
On Monday, October 9, 2023, we celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day, honoring the cultures, histories and futures of our nation’s Indigenous peoples. The fact that it lands on the same day traditionally observed as Columbus Day is not an accident. Indigenous Peoples’ Day asks us to both recognize the destructive actions the United States has taken against Indigenous peoples and celebrate and commemorate the enduring cultures, activism, beliefs and practices of Indigenous peoples.
Gustavus itself was built on lands belonging to the Dakota people. The campus has drafted several land acknowledgement statements, including this one:
Gustavus Adolphus College is located on the homelands of the Dakota people. The Minnesota River and its watershed are sacred places; these waters and lands are interconnected with Dakota culture, language, creation stories, spiritual rites, livelihood, and sustenance. We seek to honor Dakota people by telling the truth about this history.
Local events:
- At Gustavus: Wallenberg Memorial Lecture, “Boarding Schools and American Indian Dispossession,” Brenda J. Child, Northrop Professor of American Studies at the University of Minnesota (Nobel Hall, October 9, 7:00 pm)
- Indigenous Peoples’ Day events in Mankato and St. Peter (Mankato Free Press, September 29, 2023)
- Indigenous Peoples’ Day Events (Mankato, October 5-9)
- Indigenous Peoples’ Day Walk (St. Peter, October 9)
More information:
- Visit our Indigenous Peoples’ Day book display (Gustavus Library, main floor)
- Indigenous Peoples Research Guide (Gustavus Library)
- Five Things to Know About Indigenous Peoples’ Day (PBS)
- A Proclamation on Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2023 (President Biden)
- Proclamation, Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2022 (Minnesota Governor Walz)
- Our Home: Native Minnesota (Minnesota History Center)
- Working on Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples’ Day? It Depends on Where Your Job Is (Pew Research Center, October 5, 2023)
Looking for additional resources? Contact a Librarian