Indigenous Peoples Day Quotes

“The native population of this continent
deserves more notice taken than on
Indigenous Peoples Day.
But this day at least, please,
let's learn more about the people whose land we stole
(yes, even we whose forebearers came more recently,
because we continue to benefit from the theft),
and to sit in the complexity that is the building
and continuation of
our civilization.”
― Shellen Lubin

“Now many of us celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day
(instead of or along with Thanksgiving, Turkey Day,
Family Feud and/or Family Fun and Games).
I see it as a day to learn more about the people whose land we stole
(yes, even we whose forebearers came more recently,
because we continue to benefit from the theft),
and to sit in the complexity that is the building
and continuation of
our civilization.”
― Shellen Lubin

“We need to learn more.
We need to do better.
We are all woven together
in the fabric of the Earth
and over time
we will all thrive or fail
together.”
― Shellen Lubin

“For many years (even before the MMQs) when this day rolled around,
I discussed the complexities
of celebrating Thanksgiving 
as I did about Columbus Day
when the country that was founded by Columbus
(looking for someplace else)
and settled by Pilgrims
destroyed more than one peoples
and was on the backs of more than one other.

Times have changed.
It's been a relief to not have to fight so hard for that questioning anymore.”
― Shellen Lubin

“Whatever the intentions behind land acknowledgments, I am intrigued that otherwise well-educated listeners (especially university audiences) require continuous reminders that they occupy stolen land. Settler colonialism not only erases, it feeds on its own forgetfulness.”
― Ryan Emanuel, On the Swamp: Fighting for Indigenous Environmental Justice