By Morgan Taylor, Reporter
OKMULGEE, Oklahoma – An Indigenous People’s Day Celebration will be held in
downtown Okmulgee on the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Council House lawn from 12 pm to 4 pm on Monday, Oct. 12. The celebration will highlight the Native American heritage in replacement of Columbus Day.
The event organizer Brenda Golden is apart of the Facebook group Indian Territory Reservation which is hosting the day’s activities.
“I went before the Okmulgee City Council on Tuesday (Sept. 15), and asked for a proclamation declaring Oct.12 as Indigenous People’s Day and have got that granted,” Golden said. “Now hoping the Creek Nation National Council will do the same and we hope to have celebration downtown on Oct 12.”
The last Indigenous People’s Day celebration was held in 2018 according to Golden, but not in 2019. Golden decided this year she would pick the event and hold it once more. There are plans for special guest and vendors at the celebration event.
“I have already gotten Mr. Michael Coon who is going to be recognizing Muscogee Veterans and give a tribute to his father Philip Coon,” Golden said. “He also has an ongoing project for a traveling Veteran’s Memorial so that’s a big part of what we want to do is recognize our veterans.”
Mayor of Okmulgee Richard Larabee has made a commitment to read the proclamation at the event. Golden hopes to see participation from the Nation as well.
“I’ve got the founder of Green Medicine coming to share and possibly the Muscogee Women’s Leadership as they have been invited to come participate and of course were asking for vendors to come too,” said Golden.
Though the event takes place in the Muscogee (Creek) Reservation it is a celebration of all tribal nations. Guests and vendors are not limited to any certain tribe.
“Indigenous People’s Day is not something that is alien or new, we just want people to get together and celebrate,” Golden said.
Those who are looking to participate in the event in any capacity can easily do by contacting Brenda Golden at (918) 758-6773.
“Anyone who is wanting to speak or present something should coordinate with me or definitely someone on the committee,” Golden said. “We don’t want to exclude anyone, but we also would hate for someone to get left out.”
Vendors should also contact Golden or the committee Facebook page to secure a spot.
Why not have both. I can see the Indigenous Peoples Day but we should not be Deleting our Anerican Holiday as well. That’s just like supporting BLM or Blue lives matter instead of All Lives Matter. I speak for myself. Let’s not delete one holiday for another to satisfy 1 group of people. Also like saying were banning your religion and can.only have 1. I DO NOT AGREE
How about the fact that Columbus was a genocidal psychopath that never set foot on the continental United States, died penniless and likely insane and was denounced by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella who originally funded his expedition. The norse beat him to the discovery of the new world by a century or more and despite europeans having contact with India for a few hundred years before he was even born, so it’s not like they didn’t know what people from India looked, talked, or what their culture was like, Culumbus was still such an imbicile the even after going to the Carribean several times, he was still convinced that he was in India. He would have been long forgotten by history if it hadn’t been for Washington Irving, yeah, the guy who wrote Sleepy Hollow. He wrote an almost entirely fictional story based on Columbus and years later Italian immigrants latched onto the story hoping to be more accepted in their new home and it worked.
TLDR; Columbus was a greedy, genocidal imbicile that actually didn’t accomplish jack crap and should have been forgotten long ago except for a short story by a dude who also wrote about a headless horseman.
Now that I’ve updated what you were taught in 3rd grade, feel free to go double- check my facts. I’ll wait.
And before you go off about me being this, that, or whatever, I’m actually 100% caucasian, a us army combat vet, and I vote Republican, I just can’t stand listening to people spew ignorant, hateful bs based on completely wrong information.
Our religion was banned. You want truth!? Then heres some. Our indigenous people were subject to many atrocities at the hands of the colonial settlers.
Trail of Tears being one. Babies slammed into trees their lives ended. Women dragged off and raped. So violently raped they were left to die in the dirt! Yes lets remember all of that!!
Oh lets not forget Custer!! He lead his soldiers to battle……against old men, women, and children! It was a WOMAN that brought him down!
Boarding schools, beatings, rape, murder!
Forced sterilization! More!?!
Hensci again Steve,
Columbus Day is part of a false history, you still sit and believe that Columbus colonized the America’s, yet there were numerous native nations already on this land! Sorry to break it to you but you’re living a false reality. As far as you’re comment about BLM, you’re extremely ignorant to be blind sided to the fact that all lives matter can not be a thing until BLM. It is foolish of you to try to justify keeping a FALSE HOLIDAY by comparing it to people’s lives and religions! You need to take a step back and get a reality check, stay off of MVSKOKE media especially since it does not pertain to you! Mvto! Oh yeah one more thing …BLACK LIVES MATTER, NATIVE LIVES MATTER, HISPANIC LIVES MATTER, MINORITIES LIVES MATTER !!!!
I’m sick to Death of these Special people days. How can we be Equal if you want special privileges? I’m White and I’m proud. But to speak of it you say im racist. Makes me sad for this country.
How about if you aren’t racist, you don’t let what other races do effect you. And nobody is saying you’re racist because you’re proud to be white. If people are saying it, it’s because of other things you say that sound racist…..for example this post. Celebrating a culture should be encouraged and you might learn something if you stopped judging and instead listen. Being equal has absolutely nothing to do with cultures having a certain day they celebrate their History. Diversity is what made America, but yet you would rather everyone just be the same……because YOU are sick of “special people days”……….okay, KAREN!!!
Hensci,
May I ask why you’re so bothered by a culture that is not one of your own? Is it because you have no culture to begin with? Why did you feel the need to comment on something that has absolutely NOTHING to do with you or your white culture? You then proceed to say we want special privileges yet you’re more than likely a white male in America with the absolute MOST privilege! You get a privilege in this “country” by having the skin color you have, now move along and proceed with your life and try to find a culture that belongs to you! Good luck with that Mvto!
It’s so sad that I continue to here we have to unite the country, but then crap like this continues to divide us. I still say I dont mind whoever can have any DAY they want but dont try to erase what’s been our history is the process.
My question for you would be……Why on earth would you want to celebrate Columbus day? Especially after learning the history of what happened and what Columbus did to countless innocent indigenous people?!
Hensci Steve,
I believe you have misspelled hear* but that conversation is for another day. For you to call Indigenous people’s day crap is COMPLETELY DISRESPECTFUL! This country isn’t United because people like you still comment undermining others cultures and traditions! If you believe that us celebrating OUR history and OUR people is dividing the country, then YOU’RE the problem. I’m sorry that our history and culture makes you feel that way, but we WILL continue to celebrate OUR culture rather you like it or not. Mvto! Blessings to you.
What a joke. What makes the creek nation think that they are so special? As far as I’m concerned, if they are a sovereign nation, they should not be allowed to be citizens of the Umited States. They should have to make a choice. No other race is allowed dual citizenship. Just an opinion of a free American.
Creek Nation doesn’t think they are special, we know that we are. Stop being jealous. You sound awfully bitter about something that has absolutely nothing to do with you.
As far as I am concerned, you have the audacity to say that we should have to make a choice on a nation that was ours to begin with? The foolery you presented in this comment is astounding. People like you are the reason we value indigenous peoples day! WE ARE HERE ! WE HAVE BEEN HERE ON OUR NATION before it was “colonized” or better yet dehumanized by “settlers”. Keep your opinions to yourself! Especially if you don’t belong to the Mvskoke Nation, Mvto!
FIRST OFF, WHAT MAKES US MVSKOKE CITIZENS IS THIS IS INDIGENOUS LAND!!! LMFAO!!!! LEARN YOUR HISTORY OF WHAT LAND YOU STAND ON CAUSE EVERY STEP YOU TAKE OUR SQUATTER TRUE IMMIGRANTS YOU WILL ALWAYS BE ON INDIGENOUS LAND. IF YOU DO NOT LIKE IT THEN GO BACK TO YOUR HOMELANDS NOT THE LAND YOUR DESCENDANTS SQUATTED ON. SECOND, LEARN THE TREATY RIGHTS AND TO SAY ALL YOU SEE IS “ONE OF ANYTHING BEING CELEBRATED/ACKNOWLEDGED” AFTER ALL YOUR AMERIKKKAN PEOPLE BEEN STANDING FOR AND REPRESENTING ON INDIGENOUS LAND? GTFOH! YOURS HAVE DESTROYED EVERYTHING THEY HAVE TOUCHED ON THIS LAND. SO NO WE WILL NEVER BE THE SAME. ONE IS FULL OF GREED AND UNGRATEFULNESS AND IT DAMN SURE ISNT OUR PEOPLE. I PERSONALLY WILL ALWAYS FIGHT BACK WITH MY MOCS ON THE GROUND.
Dual citizenship is possible for people of other races, too, James. It’s about acknowledging a wrong (Columbus who got lost and did committed atrocities including genocide, infanticide, and homicide,etc…) Why would someone celebrate and glorify a child rapist with a holiday? Just some food for thought.
* did commit
First and foremost, Columbus was a murdering rapist. He is responsible for the deaths of countless indigenous people. He even took some back to his country as slaves. Secondly, if you are going to support history, be aware of the true history, not this whitewashed make you feel better about genocidal conquerors nonsense. Thirdly, there are plenty of people and countries, America included, that allow dual citizenship. Check yourself before you look like more of an idiot.
I am a Creek Citizen, and I am very excited about this holiday! To be able to learn more about my own culture, and celebrate it means so much to me. I want to learn more about the good, the bad, and the ugly events that have occurred in the past, our past because it’s our history. That’s why I also believe that Columbus Day should not be taken out of the picture and replaced either. I feel like we should have made the Indigenous People’s Day a holiday with a date before Columbus Day, since the Native Tribes were here to begin with. We all grew up and learned about Columbus all the same way. America’s History does not need to be forgotten. America’s History is how we got to where we are today because of the events that occured in the past. As the old, but extremely true statement says, “If our history is not learned then history is doomed to repeat itself.” Everyone knows this, or at least they should. If we as a country start deleting our past then we can not look to the past and the lessons learned from it. This is for the good and the bad. I wish people would stop using the word privilege. This is America so nothing is stopping anyone from becoming successful if they want to be. I believe it is the people that want everything given to them, and have the impression that the government is responsible for fixing all of our problems that use the words privilege, oppression, and guilt. When in fact, that is the type of thinking that leads to a dictatorship. If you believe any politician that says they will fix every single one of your problems that you are demanding that they fix then we as a country are in trouble. Do you really want the government to dictate every aspect of your life? OR Do you want to be free to speak your opinion without retribution? Do you want your rights to celebrate and practice your own religion and culture, or do you want everyone coming after you because of what you believe in and tell you how to do it? Do you want your rights to defend yourself stripped away from you? History can be updated, but at the same time we should not pick and choose what should be remembered and what should be cut out. Are we actively trying to bring back slavery and all of the horrible things that have happened in the past that none of us where actually there to experience and participate in? Because it feels like a lot of people are, why are people ignoring history lessons that we learned from, had a war over, and the events that took place to try and fix these problems. Treaties were signed, slavery was made illegal, amendments were made, land was given, and much more. I’m not trying to say that everything was done perfectly and that it fixed everything completely. That’s why we continuously try to improve as human beings and As Americans.
Does slavery in America exist today, or is it illegal now? Yet we are trying to divide our country and say that the people living here now are responsible for what happened then. White guilt is foolish. We weren’t there, and because it was something that was horrific we want to destroy all of our monuments, other people around us, and erase that history. When in fact, if that agenda is fully carried out like the democrats want then as our children grow older and have children of their own that very horrific past actually could become a reality once more in the future because nothing but hate for one another has divided us and they will have no history or lessons to look back upon to learn from and history repeats itself if not learned. So we should make room for holidays that are for every culture every religion keep all of our history in the history books and learn to love one another again. Stop demonizing our friends, neighbors, colleagues, and politicians. They can’t fix this problem for us we have to unite and fix it ourselves. Since Indigenous Peoples Day is being proclaimed on the same day as Columbus Day, I am choosing to look at it the same way I look at Thanksgiving because atrocities we’re committed then and for that reason as well, but yet we learned about all of that in school and choose as Citizens to celebrate it as giving thanks. So we haven’t forgotten our past but chose to unite and celebrate it in a different light. Now for Indigenous Peoples Day on Columbus Day I am going to choose to do the same thing. In light of that manner I ask all of you for once to not try and fact check me then come back and tell me how I am completely wrong, or try to argue with me. I ask for once that you respect someone’s opinion and to take it as it is. As an experiment I would like to see how many compliments people will give. I challenge you to say at least 5 nice things to five different people in honor of The Five Civilized Tribes and today’s new added holiday. Say something nice to someone that you do not agree with at all. In the spirit of celebration for Indigenous Peoples Day and Columbus Day. If you complete this challenge I would like a comment back that says, I Stand United. I encourage every single Okmulgee citizen to come and join us in our celebration today, and try to learn at least one new thing about The Native American Culture. I also encourage you to continue celebrating Columbus Day as well. Today is also Thanksgiving Day in Canada. So I believe all 3 Holidays are appropriate because of how I said I would like to view these two Holidays of ours together, like Thanksgiving. So please join us, learn something today, and try to complete my challenge. Thank You
This is awesome!
Hell yes!! We Natives have endured so much loss and hate and yet we still rise!! If I was anywhere near Oklahoma I would join the celebration! I know it will be a wonderful day of celebrating Indigenous resilience and identity.