There are over 574 known indigenous tribes recognized by the United States government. So the question is, do we celebrate Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples’ Day?
Well, it depends on where you live and perhaps your interpretation of history.
Christopher Columbus was revered by many as the brave Italian explorer who landed in the Americas in 1492. Fast forward centuries later, Columbus Day was instituted as a federal holiday in 1932 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. This acknowledgment was intended to honor Italian American heritage at a time when Italian immigrants had faced persecution and bigotry for many decades in the States.
However, celebrating Columbus Day became increasingly controversial during the Civil Rights era of the 1960s as more people acknowledged that this explorer, his crew, and the colonization they represent perpetuated oppression and violence.
We ask ourselves today: Is Columbus Day a celebration of fearless discovery or villainous colonization? For many, and in particular for those with indigenous ancestry, the response is the latter because of the undeniable, dark aftermath.
Colonization has decimated many indigenous populations. In terms of legacy and wealth, these takeovers also resulted in denying many Indigenous people equal access to economic resources and financial information. Many indigenous people are prevented from directing their own resources because they are federally managed, which prolongs a cycle of poverty and dependence instead of the dignity they deserve.
It is important to note, however, that before explorers arrived, indigenous people had a rich and robust economic system. In honor of the indigenous and First Nations, let’s examine a few historic, economic connections and apply them to our lives and finances today.
- (1) Be Resourceful. The indigenous people maximized natural resources and assets. They hunted animals, such as deer (Cherokees), seals (Inuits), etc. Everything was utilized fully – whether for meat, clothes, and nothing was left to waste. Indigenous people studied agriculture and harvested produce from the land which they respected. They also mastered how to survive and navigate their environments through innovative craftsmanship by making canoes (Taínos), moccasins (Navajo), and more.
How can we be more savvy and resourceful with what we have available to us?
- (2) Ensure Generational Knowledge and Wealth. Many indigenous people relied on oral language to pass along information and their histories. Elders explicitly taught their children and the youth strategies for sustainability and survival through daily experiences and ceremonial traditions.
What are you doing to empower financial wellness for all who follow in your footsteps? How can you strengthen your role and impact as a money mentor?
- (3) Embrace the Spirit of Community. Indigenous people are known to live in solidarity and value social responsibility. A premise has been that no one lives in lack as relationships are often more highly regarded than profit. The governance of the tribes, including chiefs and councils, provide structures of respect and order. Simultaneously, the native tradition of pow-wows as social gatherings for dance, music, and togetherness is longstanding to the present day.
We don’t have to be inexplicably wealthy to be generous and philanthropic. How might a more inclusive, selfless consideration positively impact those within your nexus?
- (4) Catch Your Dreams. The iconic dreamcatcher of the First Nations is a well-recognized symbol. Depending on the tribe, however, its use varied according to the legendary respective interpretation. For example, the Lakota people valued this item to harness good dreams. By contrast, the Ojibwe people constructed the dreamcatchers as a form of protection and to prevent harm from evil thoughts and dreams. The beautifully designed hoops, beads, feathers, and gemstones illustrate the importance of our daily meditations and the insights perhaps we are yet to unlock.
What vision do you have for your finances? How might intentional planning and actions add more value and significance to your life?
We have to reclaim the time to think and liberate our minds to consider economic history and diversity from multicultural vantage points. The intricate and complicated analyses of history both in the Americas and all around the world should be thoughtfully explored to inform how we construct our view of not only money but also life in its broadest sense.
Sources:
https://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/documents/workshop_MDG_hlawnching.doc
https://www.international.ucla.edu/institute/article/251563
https://www.almanac.com/indigenous-peoples-day
https://www.theindigenousfoundation.org/articles/dreamcatchers