TALOF FOSTER CRET
I CORPORATED TIT
Proclamation
of the City of Foster City, California
Recognizing October 14, 2024 as
"Indigenous Peoples' Day"
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Foster City recognizes that the lands now known as the Americas have been inhabited by Indigenous peoples for thousands of years, and that the City of Foster City is built upon the ancestral homelands of the Ramaytush Ohlone People, who were longtime caretakers of these lands; and
WHEREAS, October 12, 1492, is one of the most significant historical dates for all Indigenous people of the Americas, as it marks the beginning of European and American colonization, which included widespread violence, forced relocations, land dispossession, cultural suppression, assimilation and termination policies that forever changed indigenous lives and cultures; and WHEREAS, government entities and public institutions today have a responsibility to enact policies to oppose systemic racism towards Indigenous people in the United States, as discrimination perpetuates high rates of poverty and disproportionate health, education, and social crises; and WHEREAS, Indigenous Peoples' Day was first proposed in 1977 by a delegation of Native Nations to the United Nations-sponsored International Conference on Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations in the Americas, and as of the date of this resolution, over 200 cities, counties, states, and universities across the United States have officially adopted Indigenous Peoples Day; and
WHEREAS, recognizing Indigenous Peoples' Day on the second Monday of October provides a more accurate representation of our nation's and region's diverse history, and transforms a celebration of conquest and cultural genocide into a celebration of the enduring traditions, values, and strength of Indigenous Peoples, and brings hope for a brighter future of respect, partnership, and unity.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, PATRICK SULLIVAN, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF FOSTER CITY, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL, do hereby proclaim October 14, 2024, as Indigenous Peoples' Day, instead of and as a replacement for any official recognition of Columbus Day and encourage all local businesses, organizations, schools, and community members to recognize Indigenous Peoples' Day, and to take time to deepen their understanding of the history, cultural significance, sacrifices and contributions of the Indigenous people of this land.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my
hand and have caused the official seal of the City
of Foster City to be affixed this 7th day of October,
two thousand twenty-four, A.D.
MAYOR PATRICK SULLIVAN