This week on Capitalism, Race, & Democracy, we present a special Indigenous Peoples’ Day Edition:
For generations, Native peoples across the hemisphere have rejected the myth that Christopher Columbus was a benevolent “discoverer.” In fact, Columbus’ arrival unleashed a brutal genocide against countless of millions of Native peoples. For decades, Natives and non-Natives called for an Indigenous Peoples’ Day to replace the Columbus Day federal holiday.
In 2021, rather belatedly, President Biden formally recognized Indigenous Peoples’ Day as a federal holiday. But Biden’s recognition did not abolish Columbus Day. Instead, both now share the same federal holiday, the second Monday of October.
Professor emeritus Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, author of an Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States, dissects the contradiction of celebrating Indigenous People and the notorious Native-killer Cristopher Columbus on the very same day.
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Indigenous movements across the world are on the front lines of efforts to protect nature, preserve biodiversity and defend Mother Earth.
The UN Secretary-General’s Climate Ambition Summit was held in New York the week of September 17, 2023. It brought leaders from countries around the world and major world financial institutions to discuss climate issues.
But there was also an alternative peoples’ action in the streets of New York as 75,000 people on September 17 called on Joe Biden to stop federal approvals of fossil fuel projects such as the Willow project, a major oil development in Alaska, and the Mountain Valley Pipeline. They also called on Biden to phase out oil and gas drilling on public lands, declare climate change a national emergency and to transition to a reliance on renewable energy.
We share some of the voices from the Indigenous stage of the rally. Thanks to Jacquelyn Battise of KPFT, Pacifica Radio in Houston, Texas.
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A counter event to the UN Climate Summit the week of September 17th was the NYC Peoples’ Climate Week.
Speaking at a People’s Climate Week Teach-in at The New School was Panganga Pungo-wee-yee, Indigenous Environmental Network’s Climate Geoengineering Organizer. She spoke on the long history of environmental injustice in Indigenous communities, which includes forcing Indigenous lands to become sacrifice zones.
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On Monday, September 25, the Red Nation, an organization of Native peoples, along with an alliance of community members, hosted a press conference in Española, New Mexico. The event was held to challenge county plans to restore to public view a statue of genocidal Spanish colonizer Juan de Oñate. The gathering was held outside the Rio Arriba County administrative building.
Three days after the press conference, on September 28, 2023, community and organizers gathered on Tewa Territory for a peaceful prayerful action celebrating the decision to postpone the return of the statue. This celebration was violently interrupted by an anti-Indigenous agitator.
Diné activist, Professor Melanie Yazzie, provides details on the shooting.
Red Nation activist Jen Marley was present during the attack. Here she comments just after the shooting.
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We now turn to the case of Leonard Peltier, renowned American Indian Movement elder and political prisoner. In 1977 Peltier was unjustly sentenced to two life sentences following the shooting of two FBI agents. The agents died on June 26, 1975 during a confrontation when local, state, and federal police agencies invaded the Pine Ridge Indian reservation to confront AIM activists.
Former US. District Judge and Leonard Peltier’s attorney Kevin Sharp spoke to Indian Country Today about the miscarriage of Justice in Leonard’s case and why he must be granted clemency.
Lakota historian Professor Nick Estes of the Red Nation offers further comments on the need to free Leonard Peltier.
In advance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, even some congressional representatives have called for Leonard’s release.
House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (Democrat from Ariz.) on Friday, October 6, presented a bipartisan, bicameral letter signed by 33 members of Congress to President Joe Biden requesting clemency or compassionate release for Leonard Peltier, who has been imprisoned for nearly 50 years.
And that concludes today’s edition of Capitalism, Race & Democracy. We thank all of Pacifica’s sister stations and affiliates who contribute to the production of this show. Today’s program was produced by the Capitalism, Race, & Democracy collective with contributions from Jacquelyn Battise, Polina Vasiliev, Steve Zeltzer, Akua Holt, and your host, Freddie Heredia.
Thanks for listening!
Music:
The Halluci Nation – We Are The Halluci Nation Featuring John Trudell & Northern Voice
Stand Up / Stand N Rock #No Dapl By Taboo featuring Shailene Woodley
The Halluci Nation – Burn Your Village To The Ground (Neon Nativez Remix)
Lyla June, “Time Traveler”
“Sacrifice,” from “The Underworld of Redboy” by Robbie Robertson, featuring the voice of Leonard Peltier. Robertson made his transition on August 9, 2023. He had just finished scoring Martin Scorsese’s upcoming film, Flower Moon.
