From Conquest to Conscience: Why Indigenous Peoples Day Matters

For generations, the second Monday in October has celebrated exploration and discovery, wrapped in tales of heroism and adventure. But in recent years, a shift has been brewing—a change that urges us to look beyond the well-worn narratives to a more profound, more complex history many Americans have yet to reckon with fully. Indigenous Peoples Day is a bold reimagining, a day of reflection rather than celebration. This day honors the resilience, courage, and wisdom of Native Americans, who have endured centuries of hardship on the very soil we now share.

A History of Struggle and Indomitable Resilience

Long before the world knew of Columbus, this continent thrived with life, culture, and connection. Native tribes stewarded the land for thousands of years, shaping it and being shaped by it, each tribe with its language, stories, and customs. From the misty forests of the Pacific Northwest to the sunbaked mesas of the Southwest, these communities understood their landscapes intimately in ways that settlers, for all their exploration, could never quite fathom.

When Europeans arrived, they did so with a vision of Manifest Destiny—a belief that their expansion across the continent was not only a right but a divine mission. This notion of Manifest Destiny became a rallying cry for settlers and politicians alike, fueling a relentless push westward that left little room for the people who had called this land home for centuries. To the Native tribes, the arrival of these strangers was not an opportunity for exchange or cooperation but rather the beginning of a struggle for survival. Where the settlers saw open land to be claimed and cultivated, Native peoples saw the homes of their ancestors, their hunting grounds, and their sacred sites.

It’s hard to imagine now, but the Trail of Tears was not simply a tragic chapter in a history book. It was a march of nearly a thousand miles, taken on foot by the Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, and other tribes who had no choice but to leave their homes under the watchful eyes of soldiers. Families were uprooted, elderly people forced to walk on frail legs, mothers clutching their children, hoping to shield them from the worst of the journey. Along the way, thousands died—many buried along the trail in unmarked graves, far from the lands their ancestors had called home.

Manifest Destiny had, by then, taken a firm hold on the national psyche. The drive to expand westward became a justification for policies that would strip Indigenous peoples of their lands, their rights, and, at times, their very lives. As the United States grew, so did its hunger for land and resources. The Indian Removal Act, signed into law by President Andrew Jackson, forced tens of thousands of Native Americans off their ancestral lands, clearing the way for settlers who saw this migration not as a crime but as the fulfillment of a providential promise. The following removal, relocation, and assimilation policies were all framed as necessary steps in the march of progress.

As the decades passed, the United States continued to carve its way across the continent, guided by the unshakable conviction that it was destined to do so. And yet, for the Indigenous peoples whose lives were forever altered by this belief, Manifest Destiny was not a dream of progress but a nightmare of displacement. Through it all, they held tightly to their identities, traditions, and lands—surviving against odds that would have broken many. Their resilience remains a testament to a strength that no doctrine, however grand, could ever erase.

The Modern-Day Struggle: Land, Culture, and Identity

Today, the descendants of those resilient peoples continue to face challenges deeply rooted in those early encounters with European settlers. Reservations, once seen as a means to corral and contain Native populations, now often stand as stark reminders of isolation and neglect. Though home to vibrant communities, many of these lands face immense struggles. Poverty, unemployment, and inadequate access to healthcare persist, underscoring the lasting impact of policies designed more to subjugate than to support.

The battle for land rights remains central to these challenges. In North Dakota, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe stood resolute as their ancestors, protesting the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. The pipeline threatened their water supply and sacred sites, drawing attention to the ongoing disregard for Indigenous sovereignty. Despite national support and global attention, the project proceeded, bulldozing both land and Indigenous rights in its path.

But for Native peoples, the struggle over land is more than a matter of ownership; it is about stewardship. Indigenous communities have long believed in a sacred connection to the earth, viewing it not as a resource to be exploited but as a living entity to be respected and nurtured. This belief has guided practices of sustainable land management, which are urgently relevant as the world faces a climate crisis. From controlled burns to preserve forests to water conservation techniques, these traditions embody a balance with nature that modern society often neglects.

Today, as environmental degradation accelerates, these Indigenous practices offer lessons for a world in need. Native communities have sustained the land for centuries with knowledge born of profound observation and respect. This wisdom is not a relic of the past but a living, breathing system of knowledge that holds answers to the most pressing questions of our time.

The challenges facing Native communities today are not relics of a distant past; they are authentic, pressing issues that Indigenous people contend with daily. Cultural erasure, too, remains an ongoing battle. Boarding schools may have closed their doors, but the scars they left behind are slow to fade. In the absence of their languages and traditional practices, many Native communities struggle to reclaim the essence of who they are. The loss of language is not merely the loss of words; it is the loss of an entire worldview, a unique lens through which one understands the land, the seasons, and the spirit of life itself.

The Role of Indigenous Peoples Day

Indigenous Peoples Day is, in essence, a collective moment to step back and see this land with new eyes. It is an invitation to reckon with a history that has too often been brushed aside in favor of tales of progress and triumph. But there can be no proper celebration of progress without acknowledging those whose lives were forever altered by it. Indigenous Peoples Day asks us to honor a history of survival that speaks to the profound resilience and strength of Native peoples in the face of unfathomable adversity.

This day calls upon us to recognize the vast contributions that Native Americans have made to American culture and the world at large. Their art, music, dance, spirituality, and unparalleled connection to the land have all enriched the cultural fabric of this country. Yet it is not enough to celebrate their contributions in abstract terms, as though Indigenous culture were simply an artifact to admire. This day demands that we recognize the injustices that Native Americans have endured and continue to face.

Building a More Just Future

Honoring Indigenous Peoples Day must mean more than changing a name on the calendar. To truly respect the legacy of Native peoples, we must commit ourselves to a fuller, more honest accounting of our shared history. For generations, American schoolchildren have been taught a version of history that glorifies European exploration, often at the expense of the voices silenced along the way. It is time to confront this selective history and weave Indigenous narratives into the fabric of American identity, not as supplementary tales but as central chapters in the story of this nation.

This journey toward understanding must also include a dedication to economic justice. Indigenous artisans, business owners, and creators continue to struggle for fair recognition in a marketplace that has long marginalized their contributions. When we support Native-owned businesses, we contribute to their economic survival and demonstrate respect for their artistry, innovation, and cultural heritage. These efforts may seem small but are steps toward a more equitable future.

Moreover, we must advocate for policies that address the systemic inequalities that Indigenous communities face. Decades of neglect and discrimination have left reservations and Indigenous lands in dire need of investment in healthcare, education, and infrastructure. Addressing these disparities requires a shift in priorities that places Indigenous rights at the forefront of our national agenda. The promises made in treaties, often broken and forgotten, must be honored. True justice means not only acknowledging past wrongs but making meaningful reparations.

However, our relationship with the land is crucial to this call to action. For Indigenous peoples, the land is not merely a commodity; it is a sacred trust. The struggle to protect sacred sites, from the rolling hills of Bears Ears to the hallowed heights of Mauna Kea, is a struggle for the very soul of Indigenous culture. As we stand at the precipice of an environmental crisis, we must listen to the wisdom of those who have been stewards of this land for millennia. By respecting these sacred places, we honor the deep spiritual connections that Native peoples have maintained with the earth, even in the face of relentless exploitation.

Finally, Indigenous Peoples Day calls us to listen with open hearts and minds. For too long, Native voices have been sidelined, their stories told through the lens of those who sought to diminish them. To listen is to understand the pain and resilience that defines their journey. It is an act of humility, of willingness to learn from those who have endured and continue to endure. It reminds us that the land we walk on holds stories far older than our cities and monuments, which deserve to be heard and remembered.

Embracing a Future of Respect and Reconciliation

Indigenous Peoples Day is more than a day of remembrance; it is a call to action. It reminds us that while we cannot change the past, we have the power to shape the future. Indigenous resilience and survival stories are not just tales of hardship; they are testaments to the strength of the human spirit. They remind us that there is a path forward that honors all who have come before us and seeks to create a world in which every voice is heard, and every culture is respected.

As we reflect on this day, let us remember that the journey toward reconciliation is challenging. It demands that we confront uncomfortable truths and challenge long-held beliefs. It requires us to take responsibility for the harm done, not out of guilt but out of a commitment to building a more just and inclusive society. Indigenous Peoples Day is a chance to acknowledge that the history of Native Americans is not just a story of loss but a story of enduring strength. Let us honor that strength in all we do and walk together toward a future where all stories are respected, all voices are heard, and all people are valued.

In the words of Lakota elder Mathew King, “We want to live as ourselves and let the world live as it chooses.” On Indigenous Peoples Day, let us honor that vision and take responsibility for our role in realizing it. Let this be a day not of idle reflection but of meaningful action—an opportunity to build a more inclusive, honest America that acknowledges its entire history and cherishes all its people.