Celebrating Indigenous Peoples
On Monday, October 10, 2016 there was a protest of Columbus Day held on the edge of Tappan Square in Oberlin, Ohio. Three Eagle Cloud, long time activist with the American Indian Movement, talked to the crowd about the atrocities committed by Christopher Columbus and his men against the native people of Hispaniola where they landed. Behind him stood a gallows containing 13 nooses which was representative of how his people were executed: 12 nooses for the apostles and one for Jesus. It was an incredibly powerful demonstration. With tears in his eyes, Three Eagle Cloud announced that this would be his last demonstration as he had grown weary and no longer had the energy to fight.
In that crowd were three women from the community whose hearts were stirred to action. Just a month later they met for the first Indigenous Peoples’ Day Committee meeting ready to take up the fight. A few weeks later they were joined by a senior at Oberlin High School becoming an inter-generational, woman led group who would make history! The group spent hours researching the history of Christopher Columbus, the original people who stood on the land currently occupied by the city of Oberlin, the growing push nationwide to abolish Columbus Day, and the modern native crises. They networked and sought out allies in both Oberlin and Lorain County. They set up tables at community events to gather signatures of those who supported their cause.
On June 5, 2017 the Indigenous Peoples’ Day Committee made up of Jean Morning Dove Foggo Simon, Cindi Byron-Dixon, Mary Hammond, and Joella Byron-Dixon along with their support team of Three Eagle Cloud, Sundance, student representatives Jeriel Byron-Dixon and Devon Schultz, and a host of allies from across northern Ohio presented the City Council with a proposal to abolish Columbus Day and replace it with Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Several meetings filled with passion both for and against the change happened in council chambers before the official reading and adoption of the resolution on August 21, 2017 at approximately 8:15. Oberlin became the first city in the state of Ohio to adopt Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
The first Indigenous Peoples’ Day was celebrated in 2017, but that is not where the committee’s work ends. They try to be present at local events and host meetings and movie nights once a month. Each year the celebration grows and they look forward to spreading awareness about Indigenous Issues and to continue educational programming that ends myths and misinformation about the culture. The groups official motto is TRUTH RISES. We hope that you will join us.
GET INVOLVED
Making A Difference
Educational Opportunities
Teaching Culture and History while dispelling myths and stereotypes.
With our organization’s mission always in mind, we strive to offer educational opportunities monthly. We show a movie every third Thursday at the Oberlin Public Library. The movies are either documentaries or written/directed by an Indigenous Artist. We also invite speakers to share and facilitate conversation.
Cultural Events
Experience Authentic Indigenous Culture
At Indigenous Peoples' Day Committee of Oberlin, we are dedicated to sharing Indigenous Culture and Traditions with the wider community. In addition to our regularly scheduled educational events, we sponsor workshops and classes. We also advertise events for other local groups. We hope that each community member has an opportunity to have meaningful experiences with Indigenous Cultures from across the globe.
Indigenous Peoples' Day Celebration!
Reinforcing our Commitment to celebrate Indigenous Cultures across the globe
Indigenous Peoples' Day is celebrated on the second Monday of October. With the help of volunteers from the community, Oberlin Students for Energy Justice, and Sunrise Oberlin we organize a gathering for the community. There is music, poetry, storytelling, dancing, art and craft vendors, and snacks. We are honored and humbled to bring new experiences to the wider community and welcome input on ways to keep this celebration growing!
“The truth will always come to light. It might take a week, a month, a year or over 500 years, but eventually it will be known. TRUTH RISES”
Jean Foggo Simon
โUpcoming Events
- Mon, Oct 14Oberlin's Tappan SquareOct 14, 2024, 12:00 PM โ 1:00 PMOberlin's Tappan Square, 67 N Main St, Oberlin, OH 44074, USA
- Sat, Oct 12Oberlin Enrichment & Activity CenterOct 12, 2024, 2:00 PM โ 4:00 PMOberlin Enrichment & Activity Center, 36 S Prospect St, Oberlin, OH 44074, USA