The REAL TRUTH About the L.A.

City Council Indigenous Day Decision as

told by a Native Woman Who Was There.

The Los Angeles City Council made a historic decision yesterdayto abolish
Columbus Day and replace it with Indigenous Peoples Day.

To say that it was an important day for Native Americans would be an

understatement.

To say that it was another Charlottesville, Virginia situation is to not

understand what actually happened yesterday.

To say that it was the same as all those other politically correct snowflake
people who want to tear down historic statues is just plain ignorance.

Yes, these were all things I heard people say yesterday as I drove home
from being there!

As a Native American woman, descended from Native California Temecula

Luiseno and Serrano Indigenous people who lived in this area before
California was a state or there was a United States; as the daughter of David
Cuevas, the first Native American Superintendent for the City of Los
Angeles; and as the Vice President of the Board of Directors for an
American Indian Business Organization, I feel a responsibility to help
educate people about why yesterday wasnt just an important day for
Native Americansit was a MOMENTOUS day for Native Americans!

Let me tell you why

We all learned in school about the voyages of Christopher Columbus and his
discovery of America. But, here is what we didnt learn:

Scientists estimate that there were millions of indigenous people

living in the Americas when Columbus got here.
Christopher Columbus was not the first European to set foot in the
Americas.
From his own writings, he was a brutal murderer. Endless
testimonies ... prove the mild and pacific temperament
 of the natives, his men wrote, but our work was to
exasperate, ravage, kill, mangle and destroy.
Columbus was the first slave trader in the Americas.
He began by trading indigenous peoples, and as the native population
was decimated they were replaced with black slaves.
As part of that slave trade, he supervised the selling of native girls
into sexual slavery. Young girls of the ages 9 to 10 were the most
desired by his men, he wrote in his diaries.

I dont know about you, but I would rather stop there!

So, what does this have to do with what happened yesterday? And, why do
we need to change it now?

As the Vice President of an American Indian Business Organization, it has

been a blessing and an honor for me to meet countless Native brothers and
sisters. As a people, we are some of the most peaceful, humble and deeply
spiritual people you will ever meet. We have grown up knowing that from
time immemorial our people have been here with a covenant from GOD,
our Creator, to tend this land for HIM, and in return HE would bless us for
eternity.

But, we have also grown up knowing that our people have suffered
unspeakable atrocities at the hands of others who wanted what this land
had to offer. And, they took it over the dead and defiled bodies of our men,
women and children. That is a pain that doesnt go away, but lives on in our
spirits and our souls.

So, when we see a man like Christopher Columbus being held up as a

symbol of heroism or hear our children being taught a continuously
cleaned-up, watered-down version of who this man was every October for
Columbus Day for the sake of a pretty story, forgive us if we cry out for this
day to end.

Yesterday, I was asked to give a statement on behalf of the members of our

Chamber in support of the effort to change this day. When I walked into the
City Hall building, I could hear the Native drum beats. As I got to the
rotunda, I saw and heard something I will never forgetnative drummers
and dancers of all ages in their regalia, surrounded by hundreds of their
native brothers and sisters. The sound of the drums bouncing off the walls
of that building was like a calling to GOD on behalf of our ancestors!

To say it was awe-inspiring would be an understatement! In fact, it was so

powerful, I could see people coming out of their offices up above and
looking down to see what was going on.

As the meeting was about to start, people filed into the City Council
Chambers. When our agenda item came up, we were informed that
members of the public for and against the motion would each have 15
minutes to speak. Names of speakers had been submitted ahead of time
and called up.

Members of the Italian community came up first to say why they were
opposed to abolishing Columbus Day. Basically, they felt it was a slight to
the Italian people and wanted Indigenous Peoples Day to be on another
date. Some even said there was no proof that Columbus did the things he
did. Oh, and who can forget this gemthey brought us good food!

As it turns out, I was not called up to give my statement within the fifteen-
minute timeframe for our side. But, I have to say, the statements made by
our Native community members were well thought out and heartfelt.

As you can imagine, it got contentious. But, I was proud of the dignity with
which our Native community conducted themselves. Unfortunately, the
same could not be said for the Italian contingent. Some of them even
screamed out that we and some members of the Council were racists. It
was ugly!

The bottom line is that the Los Angeles City Council voted to approve the
change 14 to 1.

And for those who might think that this was just another bleeding-heart
liberal display of people who want to be victims and cry and complain, let
me assure you it was not! This also wasnt about racism on the part of
Native Americans, or people trying to take down a passive statue.

This was about the dismantling of a celebratory holiday for a man, who was
not a hero, by Native people and their children who have been subjected to
the lies that have been told about him for generations.

This was about one of the most underserved communities in the United
States.

This was about Native people still living in poverty on reservations without
even basic necessities.

This was about Native people without internet connection or still living in
the dial up days, because utility companies dont think it is financially
feasible to give them access to the outside world.

This was about a peaceful people finally rising up and sayingenough is

enough! We will not stay quiet!

And, in case you are thinking I am another one of those bleeding-heart

liberals, I assure you that I am not. I am a conservative businesswoman,
who was raised by a Native father to never be a victim. He taught me to
make something of myself, be part of the solution and stand up when
others wont.

So, yesterday when I stood with my Native brothers and sisters to celebrate
the decision of the Los Angeles City Council, I saw the joy in all of our eyes.
It was the joy of a small victory won for the price our ancestors paid all
those years ago, so that each and every one of us in this country could live
the life we have.

Make no mistake about itthere is an uprising coming, whether we like it or

not! And the United States is going to have to at least acknowledge the
historical truth of what happened on this great land in order for there to be
any reconciliation and peace for future generations to come.

And, next time you hear some idiot say we are just a bunch of racist
crybabies, I hope you will set them straight.

My sister sure did yesterday, when she told those Columbus supporters
sitting in front of us screaming that we were racists to simply Shut Up!

Resources and Citations

Anastasi, Kathryn N. Columbus Day & Consequences: Re-examining Italian

American Commemorations, Historic Anxieties, and (Some of) the
Narratives They Silence Macalester College
http://digitalcommons.macalester.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?
article=1102&context=tapestries
Bill Bigelow, Bob Peterson. Rethinking Columbus: The Next 500 Years.
Teaching Guide. 192 pages.
http://www.rethinkingschools.org/ProdDetails.asp?ID=094296120X
Brochetto, Marilla and Grinberg, Emanuella. Quest to change Columbus Day to
Indigenous Peoples Day sails ahead. CNN.
Fox, Jonathan and Rivera-Salgado, Gaspar (eds.) (2004) Indigenous Mexican
Migrants in United States, La Jolla: UC San Diego, Center for Comparative
Immigration Studies.
Hudetz, Mary. Associated Press article More cities are recognizing
Native Americans on Columbus Day. Oct. 11, 2015.
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/b20eb79e5c51492f808fa728eaee8d11/
more-cities-recognize-native-americans-columbus-day. Retrieved October 7,
2016.
Walker, Richard. Seattle Poised to Replace Columbus Day With
Indigenous Peoples Day. September 23, 2014. Indian Country Today.
http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork. com/2014/09/23/seattle-
poised-replace-columbus-day-indigenous-peoples-day-156997 .
Retrieved October 7, 2016.
Zinn Project, Italian Americans Who Fought for Justice Profile. Brief bios
of people of Italian heritage who were committed to social justice.
https://zinnedproject.org/materials/italians-who-fought-for-justice