Huraiti Mana x Duwamish Tribe - Indigenous People's Day 2020

Huraiti Mana is honored to have been invited to celebrate in the annual Duwamish Tribe Celebration and Gala, lifting up our Indigenous peoples on this, the second Monday in October, Indigenous Peoples' Day. We lift up our hands most especially to our Duwamish hoa hānau who, though they have lived in these lands known now as the Pacific Northwest since time immemorial, have and still continue to steward this land, and see the city named after Duwamish leader, Chief Seattle prosper and flourish - remain unacknowledged by federal, state, and local governments as a people and nation. The 1855 Treaty signed for healthcare, fishing rights, and education has still not been honored. Duwamish succeeded in receiving federal recognition in 2001 only to have it viciously revoked by the Bush Administration immediately following.

This is a history not taught in schools.

Erasure of Indigenous Peoples is still happening the world over.

It is our kuleana to end cultural genocide and erasure. It is our kuleana to pay Real Rent Duwamish and support the peoples of this land. It is our kuleana that "ethnic studies" be adopted as "American History" for our haumāna.

Sharing oli, hula, and mahalo in the beautiful Duwamish Tribe Longhouse, we make this pledge. As indigenous peoples, we stand in solidarity, we join Real Rent, we remember who we are.

"He Hawai'i Au" by Ho'okena. I am Hawaiian. 

Hula mele by Aunty Makalapua and the late Aunty Mili of Hālau Hula 'O Mililani of Wai'anae, O'ahu.

Video by: Kitman

In Hawai'i, in 1971, the second Monday of October was changed from Columbus Day to "Discoverer's Day" said to include Polynesian discoverers, navigators and vast sea voyagers - however, in its name, it honors "all" considered discoverers. The move for Indigenous People's day, backed by Native Hawaiians against the history of Hawaiian dispossession, exploitation and enslavement at the hands of Captain Cook, never made it to the ballot for the people to vote, its last attempt in 2014.

It is our kuleana. It is time.