Monday, August 17, 2009

Mississippi Band of Choctaw Proclaim New Calendar

The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians voted unanimously to replace recognition of Columbus Day, which is celebrated in October, with Nanih Waiya Day -- a day celebrated on the second Friday of August each year to commemorate the Tribe's Mother Mounds. The Mother Mounds are the cultural and religious center of the Choctaw.

"For Native Americans, Columbus Day should not be a day of celebration," said Mississippi Band Chief (Miko) Beasley Denson. "His arrival on our shores marked the beginning of centuries of exploitation of our people and our land. Much better that we should celebrate our rich culture and our traditions."

The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, with close to 10,000 members, is the only federally recognized Indian tribe in the state of Mississippi.

12 comments:

  1. You got that right!

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  2. sounds grrrrrreaatt!!!

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  3. This is great! Our Tribes, Copnfederated Tribes of the Colville Reservastion has also opted not to recognize the day Columbus got lost. Instead we observe Native American Indian day on the 4th Friday in September.
    Cindi Seymour,
    Nespelem, WA

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  4. Great concept, all Tribes should do the same!

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  5. The Tohono O'odham Nation, located in the State of Arizona, also does not recognize "columbus"day, some of us celebrate anti-columbus day! Celebration for us is National Indian Day SEPTEMBER 25!

    TO PRIDE!

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  6. Congratulations, This is the most recent respected decision for Native Americans that I have read and as a Mashpee Wampanoag I feel blessed and honored for my children, grandchildren and the next generations so now they will not belive Columbus was this wonderful "devil" as written in school textbooks. Some of us are writing to change this holiday.

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  7. The Dine' (Navajo) Nation also DOES NOT recognize Columbus Day.

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  8. the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe of Michigan also does not recognize Columbus Day but instead recognizes Michigan Indian Day (4th Friday in September) and Saginaw Chippewa Day (first Friday in August).

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  9. Good to hear. For more thoughts on the subject, see Change Columbus Day or Thanksgiving?

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  10. It's a nice suggestions for tribes what they should do!!!
    ___________________
    Britney
    Naton wide cash is easy and fast

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  11. Gila River Indian Community does not reconize Colombus Day also, But we honorably recongnize National Indian day on September 18th, 2009 as a Tribal holiday. "Gronkie"

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  12. No tribe should be celebrating Columbus Day, nor do we should celebrate Cinco De Mayo, were not mexicans.
    Since the Native Americans were first here, how come there is no holiday? I sure hope that Obama makes it a top priorty to ensure that we the Native American's have been left out for a long time.

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