The Native American Guardian Association partners with the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans to celebrate Christopher Columbus during the annual Chicago Columbus Day Parade in Chicago.
However, the joint effort is misleading because the Native American Guardian Association is composed primarily of Native Americans living outside of Chicago. The Chicago American Indian Community Collaborative, a true representation of Chicagoland Native Americans, does not support the parade – and has not for years.
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Instead, they celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
In a terse statement issued last week, the partnership claims Columbus was a villain who sparked the greatest genocide in human history and fathered the transatlantic slave trade.
The Chicago American Indian Community Collaborative is a network of 16 organizations and programs based in Chicago or the state of Illinois.
“The partnership between the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans and the Native American Guardian Association (NAGA) gives the false impression that the Native American Community of Chicago and Illinois support Columbus Day. Nothing could be further from the truth,” the Chicago American Indian Community Collaborative said in a statement released last week.
Andrew Johnson (Cherokee), head of the Native American Chamber of Commerce, doesn’t think Columbus should be celebrated as a hero.
“Recognizing Columbus in this way perpetuates the untruths and myths about contact, colonization and its effect on our Native American community in Chicago, the state of Illinois and the Western Hemisphere. We will continue to fight to ensure our story is told, that the real heroes are recognized and that we receive proper representation.” Johnson said Indigenous news online.
The Native American Guardian Association, based in North Dakota, aims to promote Native American history and preservation. Contrary to what most Native Americans think, the association endorses mascots and the use of Native American imagery for sports teams.
“The Native American community in Chicago and Illinois does not support the recognition of Columbus Day or the work of the Native American Guardian Association in representing our local interests. Many of their members are simply individuals who do not have the authority to speak on behalf of their tribal nation and certainly not the Chicago and Illinois Native American Community, the statement continued. “Our Native American community celebrates all Italian Americans and their contributions to our country, but we cannot support the negative impact and legacy of Christopher Columbus.”
The following groups and programs signed the statement:
Chicago American Indian Community Collaborative
American Indian Health Services of Chicago
Caroline and Ora Smith Foundation
CPS American Indian Education Program
D’Arcy McNickle Center for American Indian and Indigenous Studies at the Newberry Library
St. Kateri Center of Chicago
Chicago American Indian Center
Illinois Native American Chamber of Commerce
Visionary companies NFP
Mitchell Museum of the American Indian
Cultural center for tricksters
Tunica Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana (Chicago branch)
Representatives
Andrew Johnson, enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation, Native American Chamber of Commerce of Illinois
Matthew Beaudet, enrolled citizen of the Montaukett Indian Nation
Les Begay, Enrolled Citizen of the Dine’ Nation, Indigenous Peoples Day Coalition of Illinois
Dave Spencer, enrolled citizen of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, co-executive
Director, American Indian Center of Chicago
Jay Young, Enrolled Citizen of Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Co-Executive Director,
American Indian Center of Chicago
Nataka Moore, board chair, American Indian Center of Chicago
Mary Smith, enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation, Caroline and Ora Smith Foundation
Marne Smiley, enrolled citizen of Otoe-Missouria
Susan Stanley – enrolled Ojibwe citizen, Lac du Flambeau WI
Felicia Peters – enrolled citizen of the Menominee and Santo Domingo Pueblo
Cyndee Fox-Starr – enrolled citizen of the Omaha-Odawa-Potawatomi
Kim Vigue, Enrolled Citizen of Oneida Nation of Wisconsin/Descendant of Menominee
Nation and Executive Director, Mitchell Museum of the American Indian.
Rose Miron, Director, D’Arcy McNickle Center for American Indian and Indigenous Studies
Shelly Tucciarelli, enrolled citizen of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin
Vincent Romero, enrolled citizen of the Pueblo of Laguna
Megan Bang, Ojibwe/Italian, professor, Northwestern University
Julianna Castro, enrolled citizen of the Navajo Nation, American Indian Health Service of Chicago
Jody Roy, Ojibwe enrolled citizen of Atikameksheng Anishnawbek, director of St. Kateri
Downtown Chicago
About the Author: “Levi \”Calm Before the Storm\” Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) is the founder, publisher and editor of Native News Online. Rickert was awarded the Best Column 2021 Native Media Award for the print category\/ online by the Native American Journalists Association. He is a member of the advisory board of the Multicultural Media Correspondents Association. He can be reached at levi@nativenewsonline.net.
Contact: levi@nativenewsonline.net
