Richmond, VA — The Honorable Mayor Levar M. Stoney proclaimed today October 11 Indigenous Peoples' Day in the City of Richmond and honored representatives from tribes in the region at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture.

“The fact that we are celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day – not Columbus Day – at this museum and in this city – speaks volumes as to how far we’ve come,” said Mayor Levar M. Stoney. “The fact that this is only our third year doing so tells us that we have a ways to go.”

Mayor Stoney was joined by VMHC President Jamie O. Bosket, members of Richmond City Council, and members of the Cheroenhaka, Nottoway, Mattaponi, and Patawomeck Tribes.

Mayor Stoney recognized the resilience and impact of Indigenous people who contribute to our community as lawyers, artists, doctors, businesspersons, public servants, and spiritual leaders.

Dr. Sheila K. Wilson Elliott, Foundation Chair of the Nottoway Tribe, brought greetings by sharing words from the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address Greetings to the Natural World. 

“We bring our minds together as one as we give greetings and thanks to each other as people. Now our minds are one,” Dr. Elliot said. “We are all thankful to our Mother, the Earth, for she gives us all that we need for life.”   

“Indigenous peoples are some of our most ingenious peoples,” said Mayor Stoney. “We are a more inclusive, stronger and better city because of them. And as Mayor as this Great City, I thank them.”

Event live-steam can be found here.  

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