County board says no to Indigenous Peoples' Day

Respectful, well-mannered, quiet but determined, 10 Ojibwe students from Cook County High School appeared before the Cook County Board of Commissioners on September 29 to make a case to have the county recognize the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples’ Day instead of Columbus Day.

The county currently recognizes August 9 as Indigenous Peoples’ Day and doesn’t celebrate Columbus Day, said County Board Chair Heidi Doo-Kirk.

As the Local Indian Education Committee (LIEC) student representative, Jaden Aubid read a statement on behalf of his classmates, which said in part, that by celebrating Columbus Day, the county was “reinforcing the negative stereotypes of us.” He called on the board to declare October 12 Indigenous Peoples’ Day instead of Columbus Day.

http://www.cookcountynews-herald.com/news/2015-10-03/Front_Page/County_board_says_no_to_Indigenous_Peoples_Day.html