Indigenous Peoples’ Day

RECOGNITION OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ DAY

University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill

2021

WHEREAS, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (the University) is built on the homelands and villages of the Indigenous Peoples of this region historically the Enos, Occaneechis, Shakoris, and Sissipahaws who were the first inhabitants and caretakers of this land; and

WHEREAS, it is our collective responsibility to recognize and honor the land that is currently home to the University as historically aboriginal territories and Indigenous lands; and

WHEREAS, the University recognizes and values the many contributions made to technology, medicine, science, philosophy, arts in our society and our community through Indigenous Peoples’ history, culture, knowledge and labor; and

WHEREAS, the University benefited from the sale of land originally belonging to Native nations; and

WHEREAS, many who live, study or work in this space are settlers, immigrants or descendants of those who originally occupied this land, or forcefully were brought to this land; and

WHEREAS, North Carolina is home to eight state-recognized tribes which are the Coharie Indian Tribe, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the Haliwa-Saponi Indian Tribe, the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, the Meherrin Indian Tribe, the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, the Sappony, and the Waccamaw Siouan Tribe; and

WHEREAS, the University is home to the American Indian and Indigenous Studies major in the American Studies Department of the College of Arts and Sciences offering majors, minors and graduate degrees; and

WHEREAS, the University is home to the UNC American Indian Center, the Carolina Indian Circle, the First Nations Graduate Circle, the Native American Law Student Association, Alpha Pi Omega Sorority, Inc., and the Phi Sigma Nu Fraternity, Inc. serving indigenous students on campus; and

WHEREAS, the idea of Indigenous Peoples’ Day was first proposed in 1977 by the International Conference on Discrimination Against the Indigenous Population in the Americas;

NOW, THEREFORE, the UNC American Indian Center and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, does hereby recognize the second Monday of October Indigenous Peoples’ Day at UNC-Chapel Hill, and commend its observance to all members of the University community.

Kevin M. Guskiewicz

Chancellor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Joseph Jordan

Vice Provost, Academic and Community Engagement

UNC American Indian Center Staff and Consulting Team