ST PAUL, Minn. — Hundreds of people celebrated Indigenous Peoples' Day at American Indian Magnet School in St. Paul.
Students and their families along with community members were able to play Native games, watch an Aztec cultural group dance, and participate in various activities like lacrosse and archery.
Students still had class, but they were able to spend time outside to take part in the celebration. The St. Paul school has nearly 600 students and is open to students of all backgrounds. Its education focuses on the American Indian Experience.
Eighth grader Hopela White describes Indigenous Peoples' Day as a “day to recognize like Indigenous people everywhere, to like celebrate the culture, and to also recognize the bad things that happened to us and how we came back from them,” she said.
Minnesota lawmakers replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples' Day to stand in solidarity with Native people.
White recognizes some still call it Columbus Day in Minnesota and wishes they would stop.
“It makes me angry because I don’t think people like that should be celebrated,” she said.
Her hope is that one day more people will celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day and want to learn more about her culture. For White, being alive sends a strong message.
“We are free,” White said. “They tried so hard to get rid of us and our practices, but they failed.”
Her friend 13-year-old Kimimila Wahpepah feels the same way.
“We’re still here and embracing our culture,” she said.
Charlie Hall, 14, said his ancestors couldn’t celebrate the way he can now.
“I’m pretty proud because it’s an honor that the Native people are still here today,” Hall said.
He’s a proud drummer and it’s one way he connects with his ancestors.
“It’s important because it’s celebrating the things that Native people went through a long time ago,” he said.
White and Wapepah are also trying to bring more awareness to help Indigenous people who couldn’t be there.
“Back there we made a poster MMIW and that stands for Missing, Murdered, Indigenous Women and I think more people should know about that because it’s happening now and it’s happening every day,” White said.
White said Indigenous men, children and two-spirit people are also missing and in need of help.
So, while this day is about celebrating their culture, it’s also about bringing awareness for people who are missing.
