Resolved by the Commission of the City of Battle Creek:
That the Battle Creek City Commission takes notice of and acknowledges the following:
The Potawatomi (Bodewéwadmik) people have lived upon the land and along the rivers that converge in the City of Battle Creek for hundreds of years before the City’s founding; and
The arrival of the Europeans and the aftermath of the establishment of the United States had a devastating effect on Indigenous peoples and their communities. It included war and colonization. While the ancestral lands of the Indigenous people were appropriated in forming the United States, Indigenous people are resilient and are still here. Indigenous people including the Potawatomi Tribes in Michigan have been here since time immemorial, long before Christopher Columbus. They are a vibrant and self-determined people with a rich culture that is deserving of honor and celebration; and
The idea of Indigenous Peoples Day was first proposed in 1977 by a delegation of Native Nations to the United Nations-sponsored International Conference on Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations in the Americas; and
In 1990, representatives from 120 Indigenous Nations at the First Continental Conference on 500 Years of Indian Resistance unanimously passed a resolution to transform Columbus Day into an opportunity to reveal historical truths about pre-existing Indigenous cultures that have survived an often violent colonization process and continue to exist and thrive in present-day America; and
A growing number of states and municipalities in Michigan and across the country no longer observe Columbus Day, but have opted instead to recognize Indigenous Peoples Day, as an opportunity to celebrate the cultures, heritage, contributions, and resiliency of the Indigenous Peoples of the land that has become known as the United States of America; and
WHEREAS, the City of Battle Creek recognizes and believes:
In the innate dignity of all people, and that it is important for governmental policies, practices, and narratives to be equitable, reflecting and uplifting the experiences, cultures, histories, and contributions of diverse peoples; and
That Columbus Day has been viewed by many as a celebration of the United States’ rich immigrant and, in particular, Italian and Catholic heritage; and,
That while recognizing the valuable contributions of immigrants to our history is important, it should not come at the expense of recognizing the experiences of the Indigenous people of the American continent; and
WHEREAS, the City of Battle Creek is grateful and proud to have collaborated with the sovereign nation, the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi (NHBP), in numerous ways over many years in a spirit of cooperative co-existence and mutual support; and
WHEREAS, over the last year, the City of Battle Creek has been involved in a consultation process with the NHBP regarding creation of a Resolution in the City of Battle Creek to meaningfully and respectfully honor Indigenous Peoples Day, for which the City is deeply grateful for the advice, feedback, and support;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Battle Creek City Commission hereby designates the second Monday of October as INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY, to uplift our community’s and country’s Indigenous roots and history and celebrate the thriving culture and contributions of the Potawatomi and other Indigenous peoples; and
FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Battle Creek commits to continue exploring and partnering with the NHBP around opportunities to promote positive relationships and accurate narratives and other efforts to be mutually determined; and
FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Battle Creek encourages all businesses, organizations, schools, and other entities within the City of Battle Creek to recognize Indigenous Peoples Day by learning about the history of Indigenous peoples both in our community and more broadly, as well as celebrating in meaningful ways the thriving cultures, values, and contributions of the Potawatomi and other Indigenous peoples.
I, Victoria Houser, City Clerk of the City of Battle Creek, hereby certify the above and foregoing is a true and correct copy of a Resolution adopted by the Battle Creek City Commission at a Regular meeting held on October 6, 2020.
Victoria Houser
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