RESOLUTION NO. 210915

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Declaring the 2nd Monday of October as Indigenous People’s Day in the City of Kansas City, Missouri annually and celebrating the 50th anniversary of Kansas City Indian Center.

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WHEREAS, the City of Kansas City is located in the State of Missouri, which is named after the Missouria (Nutachi) tribe; and

WHEREAS, the second Monday of October is currently a federal holiday commemorating Christopher Columbus, credited with the discovery of the Americas, though his atrocities are well documented, including admission in his own journals of his murder, rape, torture, and enslavement of Indigenous Peoples across this land; and

WHEREAS, original and resettled Tribes inhabiting the State of Missouri, were systematically dispossessed from their homelands and, in violation of treaty rights, prohibited by law from residing in and/or “hunting or roaming” in the state without a permit from a U.S. Indian agent until 1909; and

WHEREAS, the City Council of Kansas City began in 2017 officially recognizing Indigenous Peoples on the second Monday of October to provide a more balanced representation of our region’s cultural history, to affirm community that celebrates diversity and constitute a small act of restitution for the atrocities endured by Indigenous Peoples; and

WHEREAS, for 50 years the Kansas City Indian Center’s mission has been to encourage social, educational, and economic advancement of the American Indian community by promoting traditional and cultural values, operating the only multi-purpose social service agency for American Indians,  Culture Nights and Youth Programming; and

WHEREAS, the City of Kansas City is committed to promoting respect for, and understanding of, the region's Indigenous community, their long history, and their continuing contribution to contemporary society; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:

That the Mayor and Council hereby declare the 2nd Monday in October of each year as Indigenous People’s Day in the City of Kansas City, Missouri; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Resolution be spread upon the Minutes of the Council in testimony thereof and that a copy hereof be presented to Kansas City Indian Center, and recognize their partners the American Indian Council, National Center for Indigenous American Cultures, and Justice Horn, with the Mayor and Council encouraging all of Kansas City, Missouri, to commemorate Indigenous People’s Day on the second Monday of October annually.

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