Why Indigenous Peoples’ Day? (Click for recording)

Join us for a live conversation to discuss the nationwide movement to recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day in honor of Native American Heritage Month. This event will be livestreamed at www.facebook.com/PresidentPreckwinkle.

Moderator: Les Begay, Diné, Indigenous Peoples’ Day Coalition, Illinois

Panelists:

• Toni Preckwinkle, Cook County Board President
• Alaina E. Roberts, Assistant Professor of History, University of Pittsburgh
• Yahtiley Phoenix, Cherokee Nation Eastern Band, Indigenous Strong
• Jen Hunt, Descendant of Choctaw Nation, Indigenous Strong
• Dr. Fred L. Gardaphe, Professor of Italian American Studies, Queens College, City University of New York, and the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute

About the Panelists:

Alaina E. Roberts is a historian who studies the intersections of African American and Native American life from the Civil War to the present. In addition to her book, I’ve Been Here All the While: Black Freedom on Native Land, she’s written for the Washington Post and TIME magazine, and been featured on CNN and the Boston Globe. www.alainaeroberts.com

Indigenous Strong is a grassroots group of Indigenous People that advocate for the Rights of Indigenous People/Community in/around Baltimore City and now the State of Maryland (MD), to include our 2SPIRIT community, and our Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) in MD. Part of our Social Justice Platform has been for the rights of Urban Indigenous Population, 2SPIRIT community, and our MMIP, who are often times overlooked and underserved. We have been fighting for Indigenous Rights as a group for approximately 5 years; but most of us have been fighting independently our entire lives.

Fred Gardaphe is Distinguished Professor of English and Italian/American Studies at Queens College/CUNY and the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute. His books include Italian Signs, American Streets: The Evolution of Italian American Narrative, Leaving Little Italy, and From Wiseguys to Wise Men: Masculinities and the Italian American Gangster.

______

The Indigenous Peoples Day Coalition – Illinois is currently comprised of over 180 supporting organizations. Building on the International effort begun in 1977 and the National movement begun in 1992, the IPD Coalition- Illinois is dedicated to replacing Columbus Day in Illinois. Supporters include many thousands of Cook County residents, and also includes over 30 Illinois elected officials from the national, state, county and city governments.

Facebook: Indigenous Peoples Day Coalition – Illinois

Twitter: twitter.com/Ipd4I

Instagram: @ipd4il

email: IPDCoalition@gmail.com

_______

The Mitchell Museum of the American Indian is one of only a handful of museums across the country that focuses exclusively on the art, history, and culture of Native American and First Nation peoples from throughout the United States and Canada. It promotes public understanding of cultural diversity through first voice perspectives.

Since its founding in 1977, the Mitchell Museum has evolved into a cherished resource of collections, exhibits, programs and activities that introduce visitors from throughout the Chicago region to the cultures of American Indians. The Mitchell Museum’s mission is to promote and share a deeper understanding of Native American peoples through the collection, preservation, and interpretation of their traditional and contemporary art and material culture. https://gichigamiin-museum.org