City Council proclaims Indigenous Peoples’ Day in Colorado Springs

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) - City Council voted Tuesday morning to proclaim the second Monday of every October as Indigenous Peoples' Day.

The decision had previously been made each year. This is a more permanent resolution that can only be reversed if a future City Council decides to do so.

The resolution passed on a 9-0 vote.

"We can be proud of Colorado Springs now… Indigenous voices will no longer be silenced," Monycka Snowbird, a member of the Colorado Springs indigenous community, said during the meeting.

Local natives gathered outside City Hall and led a march around town this morning to celebrate. Some told us they've been pushing for this resolution for decades.

“I thought it was beyond overdue," Cahuilla Red Elk told KRDO. "Don't they know where they are? They're on Indian land! They have to have integrity."

"It's just time that we start recognizing the contributions and the importance of the land that we're on, and who the original people are of this land," explained Stephanie Jerome.

The proclamation comes after a mural was painted downtown this past summer -- bringing awareness to the missing and murdered indigenous women crisis.

Local natives are also in talks with District 12 to try and change the Cheyenne Mountain High School's Indian Mascot -- saying it dehumanizes the indigenous community.

On the state level, the Colorado Board of Education has just recently implemented indigenous people curriculum from fourth grade, up.

However, the people celebrating outside City Hall today want more progress -- saying it's not just students who need to learn this stuff.

"I would like the community to start learning accurate indigenous history from actual indigenous people," Snowbird said.

"There is much work to do, and we must all come together to continue to make the momentum happen," Melissa Hall agreed.