Department of the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland kicked off Indigenous Peoples’ Day by participating in the Boston Marathon on Monday, Oct. 11. Haaland, a member of the Pueblo of Laguna, is the first Native American to serve as a Cabinet secretary. Among her goals as the U.S. secretary of the Interior is preserving our public lands for future generations, which includes, unsurprisingly, fighting climate change, prioritizing environmental justice, and family-inclusive policies for the outdoors. She is also a long-term advocate for missing and murdered Indigenous women.
So, back to the marathon. In addition to being flat-out impressive—anyone completing 26.2 miles is a feat—Haaland’s run brings important attention to a recent change that Boston, among other places in the U.S., has adopted. As of just a few days prior to the race, Boston acting Mayor Kim Janey signed an executive order encouraging the city to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day in lieu of Columbus Day, a move that shouldn’t be controversial but sadly, still is. And as Haaland wrote in an essay for The Boston Globe about why she’s running, it’s not about being on the winner’s podium, but about honoring the legacies and ancestors who came before.
In her essay, Haaland shares that she’s been a runner for about two decades. Boston is her first marathon, and she writes that she found herself reflecting on the role running played in Indigenous communities across the nation. Haaland describes runners in the high desert alerting one another to spring floods, to spread news, and to save lives during colonization.
“Traditional foot races in our Pueblo villages honor those who were strong and fast,” Haaland writes. “I run because my ancestors gave me this ability.”
Haaland also uses the the publication as an opportunity to reiterate her overall message and goal in holding office: attention and action to bring justice to missing and murdered Indigenous folks.
“On this special day,” Haaland writes in part, “I will run for missing and murdered Indigenous peoples and their families, the victims of Indian boarding schools, and the promise that our voices are being heard and will have a part in an equitable and just future in this new era.”
In the big picture, President Joe Biden actually became the first president to officially recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day. In a statement issued on Friday, Biden acknowledged: “Federal policies systematically sought to assimilate and displace Native people and eradicate Native culture” and vowed for a better future for Indigenous peoples.
Unfortunately, many places still insist on celebrating Columbus Day—likely because it is, technically, still a federal holiday—though as time passes, more and more places are honoring Indigenous folks instead. It’s happening in Hawaii; Virginia; Minnesota; Michigan; Wisconsin; Washington, D.C.; Louisiana; Texas; Arizona; Oregon; and others, for example.
And for a bit of inspiration, Haaland was photographed while running—she somehow manages to have a smile on her face even at mile 17!
You can check out a video interview Daily Kos did with Haaland on how to make sure you’re being an effective ally to Native folks here.
So, back to the marathon. In addition to being flat-out impressive—anyone completing 26.2 miles is a feat—Haaland’s run brings important attention to a recent change that Boston, among other places in the U.S., has adopted. As of just a few days prior to the race, Boston acting Mayor Kim Janey signed an executive order encouraging the city to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day in lieu of Columbus Day, a move that shouldn’t be controversial but sadly, still is. And as Haaland wrote in an essay for The Boston Globe about why she’s running, it’s not about being on the winner’s podium, but about honoring the legacies and ancestors who came before.
In her essay, Haaland shares that she’s been a runner for about two decades. Boston is her first marathon, and she writes that she found herself reflecting on the role running played in Indigenous communities across the nation. Haaland describes runners in the high desert alerting one another to spring floods, to spread news, and to save lives during colonization.
“Traditional foot races in our Pueblo villages honor those who were strong and fast,” Haaland writes. “I run because my ancestors gave me this ability.”
Haaland also uses the the publication as an opportunity to reiterate her overall message and goal in holding office: attention and action to bring justice to missing and murdered Indigenous folks.
“On this special day,” Haaland writes in part, “I will run for missing and murdered Indigenous peoples and their families, the victims of Indian boarding schools, and the promise that our voices are being heard and will have a part in an equitable and just future in this new era.”
In the big picture, President Joe Biden actually became the first president to officially recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day. In a statement issued on Friday, Biden acknowledged: “Federal policies systematically sought to assimilate and displace Native people and eradicate Native culture” and vowed for a better future for Indigenous peoples.
Unfortunately, many places still insist on celebrating Columbus Day—likely because it is, technically, still a federal holiday—though as time passes, more and more places are honoring Indigenous folks instead. It’s happening in Hawaii; Virginia; Minnesota; Michigan; Wisconsin; Washington, D.C.; Louisiana; Texas; Arizona; Oregon; and others, for example.
And for a bit of inspiration, Haaland was photographed while running—she somehow manages to have a smile on her face even at mile 17!
You can check out a video interview Daily Kos did with Haaland on how to make sure you’re being an effective ally to Native folks here.