Indigenous Peoples’ Day is a holiday that was first brought up in 1977 at the United Nations conference. This holiday was brought up as a movement against the falsehood that Italian explorer Christopher Columbus discovered America.
The idea of Indigenous Peoples’ Day was also brought up as a means to combat the prejudice against Indigenous people. This is a very important holiday for multiple reasons, and Christians do not need to turn a deaf ear to this holiday.
Indigenous Peoples’ Day marks a day to celebrate the beauty, the culture, and the uniqueness of Indigenous People.
What Is Indigenous Peoples’ Day?
Indigenous Peoples’ Day recognizes the history, cultures, contributions, and resilience of Indigenous peoples in the United States.
Observed on the second Monday in October, the same day as Columbus Day, it provides an opportunity to learn about the Native peoples who lived throughout the Americas long before Christopher Columbus arrived in 1492.
Many of us grew up learning that Columbus “discovered” America, but the Americas were already home to millions of Indigenous people with diverse nations, languages, and cultures. His voyages began a period of sustained European contact and colonization that brought enormous changes—and significant suffering—to Indigenous communities.
Indigenous Peoples’ Day helps broaden our understanding of American history by recognizing perspectives that have often been overlooked. Indigenous communities experienced disease, violence, displacement, forced labor, and the loss of land and cultural traditions following European colonization, while their resilience and contributions continue to shape America today. For Christians, the day can be an opportunity to seek truth while recognizing the God-given dignity of Indigenous peoples. We can acknowledge historical wrongdoing without reducing every person in history to entirely good or evil, while listening to Indigenous perspectives, mourning injustice, and honoring the cultures and communities that existed long before Columbus arrived.Why Is Indigenous Peoples’ Day Celebrated?
Should Christians Celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day?
Since we now understand Indigenous Peoples’ Day, it is important for us to know the importance of celebrating this beautiful holiday. As Christians, we should celebrate this holiday. It is a remarkable holiday that celebrates the Indigenous people and gives honor to them.
Many people believe oppression towards Indigenous people only happened in the past, yet it still continues into the present day. The government sadly still oppresses Indigenous people in many ways, such as taking away their reservations or forcing them to own only land in selected areas.
By knowing this, it is not surprising why many Indigenous people are still hesitant to trust the government as well as others.
As Christians, we need to love all people and celebrate their unique culture. There is nothing wrong or “sinful” about celebrating the Indigenous people and their culture. God created all people in His image (Genesis 1:27).
This means that all people are created in God’s image, whether female or male, what color skin they have, or what culture they grew up in. All people are created by God, and all people are dearly loved by God.
The Lord goes against all forms of racism because He created each of us and has declared us beautifully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:13-16).
The oppression that has been on the backs of the Indigenous people is because of racism. As Christians, we need to fight against racism and not allow its teachings to prevail. While the world has made many strides in going against prejudice and racism, it is still present today.
Often, people believe racism only goes against a certain skin color; however, any person of any skin color can be persecuted, including the Indigenous people. It is for this reason that they were driven out of their land by the Europeans and had to leave their own homelands.
When we reflect on our country’s past, we cannot ignore the bloodshed, illnesses, and death that came with it. It is impossible to say America was founded on faith, truth, and liberty.
If anything, it was founded on hate, prejudice, and racism. America has come a long way from its genesis; however, we cannot neglect to apologize and make up for the mistakes of the past.
A huge part of apologizing and making things right with the Indigenous people is to recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day as a holiday as well as to give them proper honor every day of the year.
The families of the Indigenous people had to undergo horrible persecution by Europeans when they were colonizing America, and we cannot turn a deaf ear to their cry. Some might argue that the present-day Indigenous people did not have to undergo this harsh treatment, yet this is not true.
The Indigenous people, even today, are still having to face racism and prejudice every day. The oppression that Indigenous people face needs to end because they are equal. Nobody is better than anyone else because of their background, socioeconomic class, or skin color.
What Does the Bible Say About Honoring People of Different Cultures?
We are all equal at the foot of Christ. The Apostle Paul tells us, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).
Just as Paul tells us, we are all equal. Everyone needs to keep this in mind every day of the year, not just on Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
God wants us to love all people and treat everyone the same because this is how He treats us. There is no room for hate, oppression, or racism in the life of a Christian. There only needs to be love, support, and justice.
God talks a lot in the Bible about justice for the oppressed, and the situation with the Indigenous people is no exception. God wants us to stand up for them and advocate for their honor. He does not want us to be passive or to be indifferent to these matters.
The Lord died for all people because He loves all people. This means that He died for the Indigenous people, too, because He loves them.
A Christian Perspective on Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Indigenous Peoples’ Day gives Christians an opportunity to honor the dignity, history, and cultures of Indigenous peoples while learning more about both the injustices they have experienced and their resilience.
Scripture teaches that every person is created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), which should shape how we listen to, respect, and care for people from every culture and background.
How Can Christians Observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day?
Christians may choose to observe the day in different ways, but we can all seek to approach Indigenous history with truth, humility, compassion, and love for our neighbors.
Whether through learning about Indigenous cultures, listening to their perspectives, praying for their communities, or standing against prejudice and injustice, we can reflect Christ by treating others with the dignity and love God calls us to show.
For further reading:
Why Is Christianity Perceived to Be a ‘White Man’s Religion’?
How Did Different Races Come into Existence as God's Wonderful Created Image?
How Can Believers Reconcile the Spread of Christianity Within Imperialism?
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/ABRAHAM GONZALEZ FERNANDEZ
