{"id":2500,"date":"2020-10-09T09:19:59","date_gmt":"2020-10-09T14:19:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/News\/?p=2500"},"modified":"2020-10-09T09:24:23","modified_gmt":"2020-10-09T14:24:23","slug":"kyle-chase-celebrating-the-nations-first-native-american-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2020\/10\/09\/kyle-chase-celebrating-the-nations-first-native-american-day\/","title":{"rendered":"Kyle Chase: Celebrating the nation’s first Native American Day"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/img>\r\n
A dancer at the Black Hills Powwow<\/a>, which has taken place annual in Rapid City, South Dakota, to help celebrate Native American Day. This year’s event has been postponed due to COVID-19<\/a>, with preparations underway for a celebration in 2021. Photo by Jeremiah M. Murphy<\/a>\r\n<\/figcaption>\r\n
HAU MITAKUYEPI, CANTE WASTE NAPE CIYUZAPELO<\/div>\r\n
Friday, October 9, 2020<\/div>\r\n
By Kyle Chase<\/div>\r\n
General Counsel for U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota)<\/div>\r\n
rounds.senate.gov<\/a><\/div>\r\n

<\/p>\r\nHAU MITAKUYEPI, CANTE WASTE NAPE CIYUZAPELO (Hello my relatives, I greet you with warm heart and handshake).\r\n

<\/P>\r\nThis year, South Dakotans are celebrating the 30th anniversary of recognizing the second Monday in October as Native Americans\u2019 Day. As a 30-year old-who has never known the second Monday in October to be anything different, I\u2019m honored to share my perspective and reflections on this meaningful day.\r\n

<\/P>\r\nI\u2019m a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and a lifelong South Dakotan. I\u2019ve grown up constantly analyzing issues from different perspectives: Indian v. non-Indian; State v. Tribal; Midwest values v. Lakota values. The two perspectives can be similar, but more often than not they are very different. \r\n

<\/P>\r\nWhen Senator Mike Rounds asked me to write some thoughts for his column this week, I wanted to use it as an opportunity to discuss these dual perspectives I have grown up with so all South Dakotans can take a moment to deepen our understanding of our Lakota, Nakota and Dakota neighbors and appreciate what this culture contributes to our society.\r\n

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\r\n\"kylechase\"\r\n
Kyle Chase, left, with Sen. Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota). Photo courtesy Office of Sen. Mike Rounds.\r\n<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n

<\/p>\r\nI\u2019d like to begin with what Native Americans\u2019 Day in South Dakota is NOT. It\u2019s not Columbus Day. It\u2019s not an attempt to participate in the recent cancel culture fad. Columbus Day only officially became a federal holiday in 1937. Despite Columbus\u2019 recognition on the federal calendar, South Dakota chose to be a leader in promoting our culture and, in 1990, became the very first state to proclaim the second Monday in October as Native Americans\u2019 Day. \r\n

<\/P>\r\nThe naming was also commemorated by proclaiming 1990 as the \u201cYear of Reconciliation<\/a>.\u201d The Year of Reconciliation honored the tragic 100th anniversary of the Wounded Knee massacre and focused on promoting healthy relationships between the tribes and the state into the future.\r\n

<\/P>\r\nTwenty years later in 2010, Governor Mike Rounds renewed this tradition by proclaiming 2010 as the \u201cYear of Unity;\u201d a theme meant to acknowledge differences but promote working together. We all know that this pandemic has recently tested the health of these relationships. If Native Americans\u2019 Day can remind us of just one thing, it should be to emphasize that strong and healthy relationships between the tribes and the state is just as important now as it was 30 years ago.\r\n

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Great to visit with students and faculty from South Dakota's @SittingBullColl<\/a> and #oglalalakotacollege<\/a> during the National Tribal College & University week. pic.twitter.com\/Ks6RURRM35<\/a><\/p>— Senator Mike Rounds (@SenatorRounds) February 5, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote>