Today is Indigenous Peoples’ Day — a day of remembrance and celebration of American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians throughout this country. 

Indigenous people have remained resilient, innovative and invaluable long before the image of the United States. But for far too long, Indigenous populations and communities have been underrepresented and undervalued in our government and economic systems.

The federal policies we have in place today continue to disenfranchise and displace Indigenous people and eradicate their culture. It’s crucial that we never forget the centuries-long campaign of violence, displacement, assimilation, and terror brought upon these communities. And our government has an obligation to invest in the future of Indigenous people.

As we work together to shift our country towards one that values, empowers, and supports all communities of all colors, religions, races, and backgrounds, we need to prioritize the reparation and restoration of our neighboring Indigenous communities. We must be resilient in our fight for climate action and protecting natural resources, and end the economic profit-to-pollution pipeline for the health of our shared nation.

Today, we proudly recognize Indigenous people’s strength and the positive impact they have made on every aspect of our country. Today, along with every day moving forward, we must reaffirm our commitment to uplifting, investing, and celebrating Indigenous people and the cultures that make up our country.