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Commissioners Office
JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA REQUEST
TO: Board of County Commissioners
Philip Morley, County Administrator
FROM: Kate Dean, Commissioner, District 1
DATE: October 8, 2018
SUBJECT: Indigenous People's Day Proclamation
. STATEMENT OF ISSUE: In 1977, a delegation of Native nations proposed honoring Indigenous
People of North America to the International Conference on Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations
in the Americas, sponsored by the United Nations. Fourteen years later, in 1992, the city council of
Berkeley, California, declared October 12 as a "Day of Solidarity with Indigenous People". Berkeley was
the first city to take this action. As of October, 2017, four states, fifty-eight cities, and three universities
have joined the city of Berkeley to rename Columbus Day.
This year, the Cities of Port Townsend and Port Angeles are doing similar proclamations to honor the
tribes on whose ancestral lands they exist.
ANALYSIS: Many tribes inhabited the land now called Jefferson County, WA for centuries before
European settlement occurred. These tribes (as they are recognized today) include the Hoh, Quinault,
Quileute, Makah, Lower Elwha S'Klallam, Jamestown S'Klallam, Port Gamble S'Klallam, Skokomish and
Suquamish. Maintaining strong government -to -government relationships with tribes is important for the
functioning of Jefferson County, in honor of treaty rights, and in respect to those who came before.
This proclamation is supported by tribes, including the Jamestown S'Klallam, whose Tribal Chair Ron
Allen stated in a recent email, "The Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe is delighted with the news. Recognizing
the Indigenous People on the second Monday in October is much more appropriate as the world became
aware of our countless societies in North America. As everyone has learned, the indigenous people of
America area very vibrant part and contributor to the well fair of our society. Our communityjoins all the
local Tribes in raising our hands to Jefferson County in this respectful acknowledgment. "
RECOMMENDATION: Approve and adopt the attached Proclamation declaring Monday, October
8th, 2018 as Indigenous People's Day.
REVIEWED BY:
1C2
Philip rg4�ministrator Date
PROCLAMATION
A proclamation officially recognizing the Second Monday of October, 2018 as Indigenous People's Day in
order to promote tolerance, understanding and friendship, and to combat the prejudice and discrimination
stemming from colonization.
WHEREAS, Jefferson County recognizes that it occupies tribal ancestral land and recognizing that tribal people
have lived on this land since time immemorial; and
WHEREAS, the county values the many contributions Indigenous People have made to our community with
their knowledge, labor, technology, science, philosophy, arts, and the deep cultural influences which have
shaped the character of our county; and
WHEREAS, Jefferson County recognizes that systemic racism toward Indigenous People perpetuates high rates
of poverty and income inequality, exacerbating health, education and social crises; and
WHEREAS, the idea of Indigenous People's 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
WHEREAS, in 2011, the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, representing fifty-nine Nations from
Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Northern California, Western Montana, and Alaska passed Resolution #11-57 to
"Support to Change Columbus Day (second Monday of October) to Indigenous People's Day; and
WHEREAS, Jefferson County joins a growing number of counties that have recognized the second Monday of
October as Indigenous People's Day, creating an opportunity to promote appreciation, tolerance, understanding,
friendship and partnerships among all peoples;
NOW THEREFORE, the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners does hereby proclaim the second
Monday in October as
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE'S 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 and growth of our Indigenous communities.
APPROVED this 8th day of October, 2018.
SEAL: JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
David Sullivan, Chairman
ATTEST: Kathleen Kler, Member
Carolyn Gallaway
Deputy Clerk of the Board Kate Dean, Member