Today we recognize the Indigenous Peoples who have resided on this land for tens of thousands of years and have faced a loss of land, culture, and tradition. Indigenous Peoples day allows Indigenous communities to be recognized and celebrate their vast diversity of unique traditions, cultures, and languages. It is also important to acknowledge and honor the history of the land we reside on and preserve the traditions of the Indigenous Peoples.
WR Immigration would like to share some ways you can celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day:
- Take time to learn on what land you reside on:
- This interactive map allows you to identify what Indigenous peoples land you may reside on: https://native-land.ca/
- What land WR Immigration offices reside on:
- Boston: Pawtucket and Massa-adchu-es-et (Massachusett) land
- Los Angeles: Chumash, Tongva, Fernandeño Tataviam, and Kizh land
- New York: Munsee Lenape land
- Oakland: Confederate Villages of Lisjan, Ohlone, Muwekma, and Chochenyo land
- San Francisco: Ramaytush, Ohlone, and Muwekma land
- Santa Monica: Chumash, Tongva and Kizh land
- Take time to educate yourself on Indigenous Peoples history:
- Donate to Indigenous tribes and organizations:
- First Nations COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund
- Native communities (both urban and rural) are often invisible in “normal” times. This is exacerbated in times of crisis. Native communities are ripe for the effects of COVID-19 and First Nations is collecting donations to help Native communities respond and recover.
- Fresh Water Future
- The Canadian government has failed to compensate Neskantaga First Nation for the costs associated with evacuating the community after a water infrastructure failure and Fresh Water Future is collecting donations to help support the Indigenous community.
- Native Wellness Institute
- The Native Wellness Institute exists to promote the well-being of Native people through programs and trainings that embrace the teachings and traditions of their ancestors.
- Warrior Women Project
- The Warrior Women Project is working to bring to light the radical impact of Indigenous women through recent history. They believe the stories of matriarchs should be told in their own words—as organizers, thinkers, relatives, community leaders, and changemakers. They work to illuminate the past in a way that inspires a radical present.
- First Nations COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund