14
OCTOBER 15, 2022
Smoke Signals
NATIVE
AMERICAN
WATCHLIST
Watchlist: ‘Can Americans
celebrate Columbus Day and
Indigenous Peoples Day? ’
(Editor’s note: It is estimated that there are approximately 149
billion videos on YouTube, and the number continues to grow.
Grand Ronde Tribal member and Social Media/Digital Journalist
Kamiah Koch sifts through those myriad videos twice a month to
recommend a worthwhile Indigenous video to watch. Follow her
bimonthly recommendations and enjoy!)
Veterans, do you want to file for a service-connected disability?
This is all you need (the 3 legged-stool):
By Kamiah Koch
To file a successful claim for
service-connection
Social media/digital journalist
Link between the In-Service
Event and Current Diagnosis
Columbus Day is still a federal holiday celebrated the second Mon-
day in October to mark the anniversary of Christopher Columbus
arriving in the Americas in 1492.
However, President Joe Biden proclaimed the day as Indigenous
Peoples Day in 2021.
ABC News shared a feature on Monday, Oct. 10, recognizing In-
digenous Peoples Day as a day “celebrating the contributions of In-
digenous people and recognizing the commitment to Tribal nations.”
To discuss the newly celebrated holiday, ABC interviewed Susan
Faircloth, an enrolled member of the Coharie Tribe of North Carolina
and director of the School of Education at Colorado State University.
In the first minute of the four-minute interview she is asked if
it is possible to celebrate both Indigenous Peoples Day as well as
Columbus Day.
“As an Indigenous person, it is difficult to honor and celebrate a
day that was established in honor of someone whose arrival led to
the taking of land, life, liberty and culture,” Faircloth says.
Faircloth says there are a variety of ways Americans can celebrate
Indigenous Peoples Day. She says many universities celebrate with
Native faculty and students gathering on campuses to discuss Native
cultures and issues.
As an education professor, she recommends opportunities for
teach-ins, and bringing Native literature and Indigenous speakers
into classrooms to learn more about Indigenous people.
“I would argue one day is not enough when we think about the
wide variety of diversity of American Indian/Native American peoples
across the nation with there being more than 600 different state and
federally recognized Tribes,” Faircloth says. “We should think about
ways we can incorporate Native Indigenous histories and teachings
throughout the year and not limit it to one day.”
The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde began recognizing Indig-
enous Peoples Day as an official Tribal holiday in 2015.
To watch the entire interview with Faircloth, you can go to www.
youtube.com/watch?v=YUVdcDYtRBs or find it linked in the Smoke
Signals “Watchlist playlist” on our YouTube channel. 
Parent
Connections
I am pleased to announce
we can gather once again!
Please join us biweekly in
this parent connection
group.
cultural
education

A re you missing out on what Cultural
Education has to offer? Follow us on Facebook
to get detailed class information, photos from
events, and updates.

Healthy Conversations
around parent/child
connections
Monthly topics with open
discussion encouraged

Professionals invited

Beading/ cultural
connections

Judgement-free space
Location:
Plus, check out the tribal calendar for a quick
glance of upcoming events and classes.
Open to Tribal and Community members.
Join us!
Thursday, Oct. 6
Thursday, Oct. 20
Light lunch
will be provided
Thursday, Nov. 3
Search Facebook for Grand Ronde Cultrual Education
Tribal Calendar // www.grandronde.org/tribal-calendar
For more information on this series please contact one of our family partners:
Audra.Sherwood@grandronde.org 503-879-2069
Lyndsey.Stuckey@grandronde.org 503-879-2095
Chyanne.Schlappie@grandronde.org 503-879-1496