Indigenous March convenes in nation’s capital

By Nisa Islam Muhammad -Staff Writer- | Last updated: Jan 22, 2019 - 10:47:28 AM

Indigenous people and supporters from around the world convened in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 18 for the Indigenous Peoples March. Photos: Hassan Muhammad

WASHINGTON—Indigenous people representing Native American nations and tribes in the United States and groups from Puerto Rico, South America, Central America, Europe and countries around the world gathered in the nation’s capital, to call attention to issues like voter suppression, dividing families by walls and borders, an environmental holocaust, sex and human trafficking, and police/military brutality affecting their communities. The Indigenous Peoples March was held Jan. 18, one day before the Women’s March.

“This is the first time in history that we have organized, and organized groups worldwide to be motivated and concerned to take a global look at each other. We saw the same injustices happening to people in general, the same disrespect happening to tribal people around the world. People are tired,” march organizer and speaker Jay Winter Nightwolf of the Cherokee Nation told The Final Call.

“This march is parallel to what Black people faced in the 1960’s,” he explained. “They were downtrodden. Enough is enough. We reached out to our brothers and sisters around the world to come together as a grassroots effort. In North America alone there are 527 tribes, 200 in Canada. This march is not just about the Western hemisphere, people came from New Zealand and Europe. We expected 10,000-50,000,” said Mr. Nightwolf.

The bitter cold and snow may have kept some of those thousands away but those that did come were empowered by the speeches that featured a range of speakers from tribal representatives to representatives of other groups. Nation of Islam International Representative Abdul Akbar Muhammad spoke to the gathering about the long historical relationship between the Nation of Islam and Native Americans going back to the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and advanced under the leadership of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan. U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland (D.-N.M) a member of the Laguna Pueblo and one of two Native women elected to the House of Representatives in November also addressed the crowd.

The crowd listened to messages of unity as various speakers addressed issues Indigenous communities are facing. (bottom photo) Smirking White teens in MAGA hats mock Native American Vietnam War vet. Photo: Youtube

“It’s a great day to be indigenous,” she told the crowd. “I feel the power in this group of people. I’m so happy that you all are here. That you traveled so far to be here in this land; this is Indian land.”

“The Indigenous Peoples March is a national platform to raise the issues that negatively impact our communities the most—voter suppression, the border wall, the missing and murdered, human trafficking and lack of resources—just to name a few,” explained the congresswoman in a statement released the day before.

“For too long Native communities have been left out of the national/global conversation, and our men, women and children suffer because of it. As one of the first Native American women in Congress, I see it as my responsibility to educate my colleagues about the federal government’s trust responsibility and provide a voice to advocate for those who have historically not had a seat at the table to make a long-awaited change.”   

The empowering messages of change and display of unity was interrupted at the end of the march by a group of White students from Kentucky Covington Catholic High School all boys prep school who were in D.C. for the March for Life.

Nathan Phillips, an Omaha elder, Vietnam Veteran, and former director of the Native Youth Alliance was drumming as the march was ending and he was preparing to leave. He was singing the ceremonial American Indian Movement song that sends the spirits home after events.

In video footage that went viral via the internet one boy wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat blocked the path of Mr. Phillips. The Native American elder was surrounded by more than 30 mostly young, White males many of whom were seen with smirks on their faces and appearing to mock Mr. Phillips. He was trying to defuse tensions between the students and another group.

“What we saw yesterday, the display surrounding Mr. Phillips, is emblematic of the state of our discourse in Trump’s America,” said Darren Thompson, an organizer for the Indigenous Peoples Movement in a statement.

“It clearly demonstrates the validity of our concerns about the marginalization and disrespect of Indigenous peoples, and it shows that traditional knowledge is being ignored by those who should listen most closely.”

The Diocese of Covington and Covington Catholic High School issued a statement following the march that condemned the action of the students, adding that “the matter is being investigated and we will take appropriate action, up to and including expulsion.” The main student seen in the video has since been identified and released a statement disputing what transpired.

The Indigenous Peoples March started at the Department of the Interior where protesters gathered and then walked to the Lincoln Memorial.

The event was organized by the Indigenous Peoples Movement, a grassroots coalition determined to eliminate injustice for indigenous peoples worldwide. The march inspired more than 10 solidarity marches globally.

Darius Robbins came to the D.C. gathering from Baltimore to acknowledge his Shawnee Indian heritage. “I heard family stories about being part Indian and this is the first time I’ve had a chance to be a part of an Indian movement. I’ve talked to brothers and sisters to hear their pain. I haven’t been involved before just because I wasn’t connected but this march connected me with just the right people,” he told The Final Call.

Earth from the Yamassee Nation said she felt the real significance of the day was that it was organized by regular people.

“There was no major leader or major group involved that did this and that’s important for people to know. We put it together in less than three months. We are really raising awareness to the indigenous issues all across the board, not just North America but across the world, South America, Africa, the Pacific Islands, the entire planet is involved,” she said.

The Indigenous Peoples March was more than just a march. It was a weekend of activities. “I organized the concert tonight,” said Earth. “It’s different artists from all genres expressing our culture. We have people coming from all over.”

The weekend concluded with an indigenous leadership meeting to strategize for the future.

The Final Call