HomeMy WebLinkAboutPROCLAMATION re Indigenous Peoples Day JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA REQUEST
TO: Board of County Commissioners
FROM: Adiel McKnight, Deputy Clerk of the Board
DATE: October 13,2025
SUBJECT: PROCLAMATION re: Declaring Monday, October 13,2025 as
Indigenous Peoples' Day
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
Jefferson County will consider again joining a growing number of counties, cities and states that have
recognized the second Monday of October, 2025 as Indigenous People's Day, creating an opportunity to
promote appreciation,tolerance, understanding, friendship and partnerships-particularly with the Tribal
nations who lived, subsisted, congregated and traveled on the Olympic Peninsula lands and waters since time
immemorial.
ANALYSIS:
The County is committed to building strong working relationships with our tribal neighbors through formal
and informal Government-to-Government relations. Recognizing Indigenous Peoples' Day is a good faith
effort to acknowledge that this County sits on tribal lands,to address the historic injustices that colonization
brought, and to build trust and understanding for present and future work together.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None.
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve and adopt the attached Proclamation re: Proclaiming Monday, October 13, 2025 as Indigenous
Peoples' Day.
REVIEWED BY:
At%' ICE .sr-
Jos . Peters, County Administrator Date
PROCLAMATION
A proclamation officially recognizing Monday,October 13,2025 as Indigenous Peoples' Day in order to promote
respect and representation,to honor and celebrate the rich culture and treaty rights of Indigenous People,to combat
prejudice and discrimination, and to promote healing from the violence of colonization of Indigenous Peoples and their
land.
WHEREAS,Jefferson County, Washington recognizes its boundaries occupy the ancestral lands and waters of
the federally-recognized Jamestown S'Klallam, Lower Elwha Klallam, Port Gamble S'Klallam, Skokomish, Hoh,
Quileute and Quinault Tribes;and
WHEREAS,Jefferson County also recognizes that other tribal peoples have resided,traveled through,hunted,
gathered,fished and camped on these lands and waters since time immemorial, including peoples that are not federally
recognized;and
WHEREAS,Jefferson County acknowledges that lands that currently comprise its boundaries may have been
unceded or ceded,and sometimes ceded under political pressure or duress; and
WHEREAS,Jefferson County honors the treaty and historical indigenous rights of tribes as sovereign nations and
collaborates in good faith consultation and Government-to-Government relations;and
WHEREAS,Jefferson County Commissioners are gravely concerned that resources such as salmon and shellfish,
which tribes have rights to,and which their subsistence and culture rely on,are dwindling and endangered in many places
due to climate change,development and resulting degradation of habitat; and
WHEREAS,the county values the many contributions Indigenous Peoples have made to our community with
their knowledge, philosophy, stewardship, arts,and the deep cultural influences which have shaped our county;and
WHEREAS,Jefferson County recognizes that systemic racism and bias toward Indigenous People perpetuates
high rates of poverty, income inequality,health, education,and social crises, and endeavors to remove these barriers;and
WHEREAS,the idea of Indigenous Peoples' Day was first proposed in 1977 to the United Nations-sponsored
International Conference on Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations in the Americas;and
WHEREAS, in 2011,the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, representing fifty-nine(59)Northwest Tribal
Nations,passed Resolution#11-57 to"Support to Change Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples" Day; and
WHEREAS,Jefferson County joins a growing number of counties that have recognized the second Monday of
October as Indigenous Peoples' Day,creating an opportunity to promote learning,healing,appreciation, understanding,
friendship and partnerships among all peoples;
NOW, THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED that the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners does
hereby proclaim the second Monday in October, 2025 as
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' DAY
in Jefferson County, and encourage all to celebrate the thriving cultures and values of the Indigenous Peoples of our
region,to learn more about the history of Indigenous Peoples and their cultures,and to continue efforts to promote the
well-being of our Indigenous communities.
APPROVED this 13h day of October, 2025.
JEFFERSON COUNTY
SEAL: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Heidi Eisenhour, Chair
Greg Brotherton, Member
ATTEST:
Carolyn Gallaway, CMC Clerk of the Board Heather Dudley-Nollette,Member