This October 14th is Indigenous Peoples’ Day, a time where we celebrate and honor the complex histories and many cultures of the Indigenous people of the United States.
Indigenous Peoples’ Day recognizes Native Americans as the original inhabitants of the land.
Here in Cook County, we are on the land of the Council of Three Fires—the Ojibwa, Ottawa and Potawatomi—as well as the Miami, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Sauk and Meskwaki peoples.
See the official Land Acknowledgement from the Forest Preserves of Cook County HERE.
Beyond commemorating the past, there is a necessity to celebrate Native peoples’ of today by appreciating Native art, culture, and continued environmental efforts.
As Indigenous nations still face inequity and discrimination, we all must share the duty of educating ourselves and continuing the spirit of care and community.
