HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2020.09.23 - 33686MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION #20389
BY: Commissioners William Miller, District #14; Marcia Gershenson, District #13, Janet Jackson, District
#21; David T. Woodward, District #19; Nancy Quarles, District #17; Gwen Markham, District #9; Helaine
Zack, District #18; Kristen Nelson, District #5; Penny Luebs, District #16
IN RE: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS — RECOGNIZING THE SECOND MONDAY OF OCTOBER AS
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' DAY
To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
WHEREAS 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
WHEREAS 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 which continues to exist and thrive in present day America; and
WHEREAS the United States endorsed the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
on December 16, 2010, and Article 15 of that declaration states:
• Indigenous peoples have the right to the dignity and diversity of their cultures, traditions, histories,
and aspirations, which shall be appropriately reflected in education and public information
• States should take effective measures, in consultation and cooperation with the indigenous peoples
concerned, to combat prejudice and eliminate discrimination and to promote tolerance,
understanding, and good relations among indigenous peoples and all other segments of society;
and
WHEREAS since 2015, at least 11 states and 129 cities in the United States have passed measures
designating the second Monday in October Indigenous Peoples' Day instead of Columbus Day; and
WHEREAS historians have largely agreed that Columbus did not "discover" the Americas, as indigenous
people were already here, nor was he the first European to reach the "New World"; and
WHEREAS Columbus brought devastation to the Americas, enslaving indigenous people of the region and
decimating the population while opening the Americas up to Europe for the expansion of slave trade at the
expense of the indigenous population; and
WHEREAS the State of Michigan recognizes the presence of the three major tribal groups in our State
today, the Chippewa (Ojibwe), Ottawa (Odawa), and Potawatomi (Bod(§wadmik), who have lived upon this
land since time immemorial, and values the progress our society has accomplished through Native
American thought and culture; and
WHEREAS the recognition and acknowledgement of Indigenous Peoples' Day would officially acknowledge
and respectfully support the resistance, persistence, existence and living history of Oakland County's
indigenous people, including the Bodewadmik, Odawa, Ojibwe; and
WHEREAS Indigenous Peoples' Day shall be used to reflect upon the ongoing struggles of indigenous
peoples on this land, and to celebrate the thriving cultures and values that the Bodewadmik, Odawa,
Ojibwa, and other indigenous peoples contribute to our society; and
WHEREAS on this second Monday of October, we should honor the historic, cultural, and contemporary
significance of indigenous peoples and their ancestral lands that also became known as the Americas and
celebrate their contributions to communities throughout Michigan, the United States, and all over the world;
and
WHEREAS Oakland County has a responsibility to oppose the systemic racism towards indigenous people
in the United States which perpetuates negative impacts on health, income, and social inequalities.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners proclaims
October 12, 2020, as Indigenous Peoples' Day in Michigan to uplift our country's indigenous roots, history,
and contributions.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we celebrate and honor the foundational contributions of Indigenous
People to the history of our County, the State of Michigan, and our Country.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners encourages our schools
and other institutions to use Indigenous Peoples' Day as a point from which to, throughout the year, reflect
upon and learn about the historical abuses and continuing struggles of indigenous nations, and to celebrate
the magnificent foundations of the indigenous people of this land upon which our County, State, and
Country were built.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners urges the County of
Oakland, at the earliest possible date in the 2021-2022 fiscal year, to rebrand all marketing materials, signs,
calendars, and other medias from the name "Columbus Day" to that of Indigenous Peoples' Day.
Chairperson, I move the adoption of the foregoing resolution.
Commissioner William Miller
District #14
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Co issioner Janet aJ ckson
District #21
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Commissioner Helaine Zi
District #18
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Commissioner David T. Woodward
District #19
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Commissioner'Gweh Markham
District #9
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Resolution #20389
September 3, 2020
The Chairperson referred the resolution to the Health Safety and Human Services Committee. There were
no objections.
Resolution #20389 September 23, 2020
Moved by Miller seconded by Luebs the resolution be adopted.
Moved by Nelson seconded by Miller to add Commissioners Nelson and Luebs as co-sponsors of the
resolution.
A sufficient majority having voted in favor, the motion to add Commissioners Nelson and Luebs, as co-
sponsors of the resolution carried.
Discussion followed.
Moved by Gingell seconded by Hoffman the resolution be amended as follows:
Amend the following language in the title:
IN RE: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS — RECOGNIZING THE SECOND THIRD MONDAY OF
OCTOBER AS INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' DAY
Amend the following language in the 10th WHEREAS:
WHEREAS on this sesend third Monday of October, we should honor the historic, cultural, and
contemporary significance of indigenous peoples and their ancestral lands that also became known
as the Americas and celebrate their contributions to communities throughout Michigan, the United
States, and all over the world; and
Amend the following language in the NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
proclaims October 42 19, 2020, as Indigenous Peoples' Day in Michigan to uplift our country's
indigenous roots, history, and contributions.
Vote on amendment:
AYES: Middleton, Spisz, Taub, Weipert, Gingell, Hoffman, Kochenderfer, Kowall, K hn, Long. (10)
NAYS: McGillivray, Miller, Nelson, Powell, Quarles,oodward, Zack, Ger son, Jackson,
Luebs, Markham . (11)
A sufficient majority not having voted in favor, the amendment d-ZN L4 ION
Discussion followed. I HEREBY AFP'e ROVETHIS FE
CHIEF DEPUTY COUNTY EXECUTIVE
Vote on resolution, as presented: TING PURSUANTTO MCL 45.559A (7)
AYES: Miller, Nelson, Powell, Quarles, Woodward, Za ershenson, Jackson, Luebs, Markham,
McGillivray. (11)
NAYS: Middleton, Spisz, Taub, Weipert, Gingell, Hoffman, Kochenderfer, Kowall, Kuhn, Long. (10)
A sufficient majority having voted in favor, the resolution, as presented, was adopted.
STATE OF MICHIGAN)
COUNTY OF OAKLAND)
I, Lisa Brown, Clerk of the County of Oakland, do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution is a true and
accurate copy of a resolution adopted by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners on September 23,
2020, with the original record thereof now remaining in my office.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Circuit Court at Pontiac,
Michigan this 23rd day of September, 2020.
Lisa Brown, Oakland County