The sacred San Francisco Peaks in Arizona. Photo by Tyler finvold / Wikipedia
The city council in Flagstaff, Arizona, is set to vote next week on a proposal to create Indigenous Peoples' Day. Native activists are supporting the plan, which goes a step further than merely honoring indigenous peoples on the second Monday of every October. They are hoping to bring about concrete change with public hearings, a report and an action plan that would improve the lives of thousands of Native Americans who live, work and attend school in Flagstaff. "Indigenous Peoples have long been a part of the community of Flagstaff yet our lives and cultures have faced serious mistreatment here, both historically and today," said Belinda Ayze, a member of the Navajo Nation who lives in the city and attends Northern Arizona University. As one example, Ayze cited a 2014 report from the Flagstaff Police Department which showed that Native Americans accounted for 45 percent of arrests. Yet Native people only represent 11.7 percent of the population in the city, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. There's also only one Native officer on the force and just four Native civilian employees at the department, the report stated. Flagstaff also has drawn controversy for supplying treated sewage to the Arizona Snowbowl, a privately-operated ski resort located in the Coconino National Forest. The use of the reclaimed wastewater desecrates the San Francisco Peaks, a site held sacred by the Navajo Nation and several other tribes in the Southwest. "Our lives and cultures are continually compromised through political decisions here in Flagstaff," said Ayze.
The Indigenous Peoples' Day rally takes place at city hall in Flagstaff, Arizona, at 5pm on February 23. Image from event organizers
Council member Eva Putzova is pushing the Indigenous Peoples' Day action plan at next Tuesday's council meeting. One of her goals is to ensure that a memorandum of understanding between the city and Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission is implemented. "The city and commission agree this understanding does not place blame concerning this racism and discrimination," the document reads. "However, the city realizes history intrudes on the present relationship between Navajos and non-Navajos." Putzova included the public hearing and report components after hearing from Native activists, who will be rallying in support of her proposal in front of city hall at 5pm on Tuesday, February 23.
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