20-31 Recognizing Indigenous Peoples Day

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Filed in Clerk's Office SLP 222020 - BILL N0.20-31 DAWN P,?.JONES CITY CLERK, SOUTH BEND, IN RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, RECOGNIZING THE 2"d MONDAY OF EACH OCTOBER AS INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY ALSO TO BE KNOWN AS NATIVE AMERICANS DAY WHEREAS, the Common Council notes that the most recent United States Census reported that 0.5% of the South Bend population is listed as "American Indian and Alaska Native alone" with 0.3% of the State of Indiana's population being also listed in this category; and WHEREAS, the Common Council further recognizes that in June of 2013, the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi opened its first Indiana office in South Bend which provides Tribal members in northern Indiana improved access to Tribal services such as health care, education and housing assistance; as well as youth tutoring and mentoring programs, employment training and placement, elder care and language and cultural programs in their quest to carry out the Tribe's mission to create a "foundation for people to make their lives better''; and WHEREAS, in the interest of promoting Native American culture and to commemorate the history of Native American, in 1990 representatives from 120 Indigenous nations held the First Continental Conference to " ... strengthen the process of continental unity and struggle towards liberation [to] use the occasion to reveal a more accurate historical record"; and WHEREAS, the City of South Bend, Indiana, recognizes the rich cultural impact of Native Americans in our community going back to the Miami and Potawatomi Native Americans and proudly includes many venues and events named in their honor such as the Potawatomi Zoo, the Potawatomi Pool, the Potawatomi Conservatories, the Potawatomi Park Concert Series, Mark di Suvero's "The Keepers of the Fire sculpture installed in the St. Joseph River east of the Century Center, and the naming of the Four Winds Field, home of the South Bend Cubs, a Class A minor league baseball team; and WHEREAS, since 1937, the 2"d Monday of October of each year has been officially recognized by the federal government as "Columbus Day" and Indiana Code 1-1-9-1 officially designates Columbus Day as a legal holiday in the State of Indiana. Now, Therefore, be it resolved by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana as follows: Section I. The Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana, believes that efforts should be continued to promote the well-being and growth of the Native American culture and the Indigenous community in our city. Section II. Therefore, the 2"d Monday of October 2014, shall be known as Indigenous Peoples Day and may also be called Native Americans Day in South Bend,