Indigenous Peoples' Day

The Equity and Inclusion Council at Bristol Community College is proud to advocate for Native peoples and celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day. The true history of Native American genocide is rarely taught in K-12 schools. We encourage all members of our college community to learn about Indian Removal, scalp bounties, Indian Residential schools, and the ways in which racism against Native peoples is—to this day—woven into Federal Law.  

We celebrate the 574 tribal nations in the United States today—who exercise their sovereignty through ceremony, government, caring for the environment, preparing traditional foods, and speaking and teaching their Native languages.  

As our Land Acknowledgment states, despite colonization, assimilation policies, and Western expansion, Native peoples are still here. On this Indigenous Peoples’ Day, October 9, 2023, we celebrate the resilience of Indigenous communities worldwide and close to home.