On Monday, people gathered at the fountain in Alliance to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day with songs and solidarity.
Erica Sanchez, one of the event organizers, said people throughout the state celebrated Indigenous Peoples’ Day in 2020, which is why she decided to promote a celebration in Alliance, noting the region has a large population of Native Americans.
“For me, Indigenous Peoples’ Day is a way to honor and recognize our ancestors who deserve to be recognized,” said Sanchez.
She said she contacted Edison Red Nest III to help organize a gathering at the fountain to recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
She emphasized that Native Americans do many positive things in the community that do not often receive recognition, such as athletic achievements among Native American youth, and community service efforts to build the community. She hopes that highlighting those efforts it will help to overcome harmful stereotypes.
The event began with burning sage. It was followed by a song and a discussion with Red Nest. During the event, Red Nest emphasized that Native Americans have seen many struggles over the course of generations, some of which are not widely discussed. He explained the history of alcohol use, noting that the prohibition of alcohol endured until 1953, when President Dwight Eisenhower lifted the prohibition.
Red Nest said that during that time, Native Americans were prosperous in the region, explaining that many owned businesses and served in the community. After the prohibition ended for Native Americans, Red Nest explained, the number of Native Americans in those roles declined.
He emphasized that it is their duty to teach the future generations about these events and to start rebuilding that status.
Both Sanchez and Red Nest were pleased with the turnout at the celebration, noting it shows solidarity.
“The older ones, the heads of family, were here, and I hope they can take that back to their families,” said Red Nest. “It was good for the town to recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day, especially a town like Alliance, or where we live in the Panhandle. It’s good. It’s a long time coming. We’re far, far away from where we need to be as Native people, but we’re getting there. We just need a direction, and I think this is the beginning of it, getting people together, getting people organized, and pushing forward a goal, not for us, but for our kids and future generations.
“We want to be recognized for the type of people that we are, for the good things we are doing, not for the stereotypical Native who’s drunk and getting in trouble, even though some of our people perpetuate that. Some of our people do drink, some of us do get into trouble, but that’s not all of us. We, as Natives, we want better for ourselves, we want better for our people. We want better for our children. That’s what I hope people take away from this, is that we can be better. We are better than where we were, even 10 years ago.”
Red Nest said he hopes people in Alliance see all of the accomplishments of Native Americans in the community. He noted that the Native Futures Foundation was recently formed in Alliance, with a goal of helping Native Americans. He said it is a non-profit organization, which allows them to receive help from other organizations to grow activities and resources.
“I hope that people see our children succeeding in school, that our children want to do good,” said Red Nest. “I hope they see that parents out here are trying to teach their children better, and I hope that they see us as an organization, that we’re here to help, that we want to help, and that we will do whatever we can to make sure that our children, our people are well, and that they are safe and taken care of. We want to bring back that old way, that old lifestyle of community, of tribe, and everybody is involved, everybody’s together. You’re here, you’re with us; you’re with the Natives.”
The event at the fountain concluded with a song, after which people were invited to the Sandhills Drive-In for a free movie and popcorn, sponsored by the Santee Sioux Nation Society of Care.
Red Nest thanked his family members and all of the people in attendance at the event.
On Oct. 8, President Joe Biden issued a proclamation declaring Oct. 11, 2021 as Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
“The contributions that Indigenous peoples have made throughout history — in public service, entrepreneurship, scholarship, the arts, and countless other fields — are integral to our Nation, our culture, and our society. Indigenous peoples have served, and continue to serve, in the United States Armed Forces with distinction and honor — at one of the highest rates of any group — defending our security every day. And Native Americans have been on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, working essential jobs and carrying us through our gravest moments. Further, in recognition that the pandemic has harmed Indigenous peoples at an alarming and disproportionate rate, Native communities have led the way in connecting people with vaccination, boasting some of the highest rates of any racial or ethnic group,” the proclamation states.
“The Federal Government has a solemn obligation to lift up and invest in the future of Indigenous people and empower Tribal Nations to govern their own communities and make their own decisions. We must never forget the centuries-long campaign of violence, displacement, assimilation, and terror wrought upon Native communities and Tribal Nations throughout our country. Today, we acknowledge the significant sacrifices made by Native peoples to this country — and recognize their many ongoing contributions to our Nation,” the proclamation states.