“For Americans to live, Columbus must die,” reads a sign propped against the main table for Indigenous Solidarity Week, which began Oct. 14 in the EMU amphitheater.
Ada Ball, one of the co-directors of the Native American Student Union and a member of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, said the event is meant to encourage students to “stand up for your identity and your people.”
Traditionally, the event has been a single day to highlight their opposition to the recognition of Columbus Day, and was often abbreviated as Anti-Columbus Day. This year, NASU was able to extend the event over an entire week.
On Monday from noon to 3 p.m., onlookers and supporters gathered in the EMU as speakers such as Gordon Bettles, the Many Nations Longhouse steward, voiced their opposition to the recognition of a day that largely represents oppression to them, as well as hope for the future.
Bettles referred to sentiments of indigenous peoples “not having souls,” during Columbus’ time, but expressed thanks for his tribe’s elders. “I want to be as smart as the elders for future generations,” he said.
At 4 p.m. a salmon feed will be hosted in the Many Nation Longhouse, and at 6 p.m. Hugo Morales, founder of Radio Bilingues, will talk on the power of social media for social movements in the Global Scholars Hall Great Room.
On Oct. 15 through 17, various panels will be hosted in the Many Nations Longhouse on the topics of indigenous languages, violence against women in indigenous cultures. On Oct. 18 there will be a concert in the EMU with hip-hop acts Quese IMC and Tribal Thought starting at 7 p.m.
Anti-Columbus Day began as a nation-wide movement in the 70s, and has been celebrated by NASU for many years since the group’s inception in 1969.
The week-long events are meant to bring together non-native and indigenous students. ”We believe in instilling a sense of community,” Ball said. “We’re really welcoming.”
According to the Eugene Weekly, there are “171 American Indian or Alaska Natives on campus, but that counts only allows people to check off one ethnic affiliation, so a student cannot be listed as both Native American and Hispanic.”
More on Indigenous Solidarity Week can be found on the event’s Facebook’s page.