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- By Native News Online Staff
Earlier this year, Nevada state lawmakers passed a bipartisan bill to formally recognize the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples’ Day. However, Republican Governor Joe Lombardo vetoed the measure, leaving Nevada without official recognition on the day most states now observe—even as sovereign Tribal Nations continue to lead the celebrations.
In his veto message, Lombardo argued that Nevada already acknowledges Indigenous peoples through the International Day of Indigenous Peoples each August. Yet no proclamation was issued this year, and during his tenure, he hasn’t issued one for Columbus Day either.
Barbara Hartzell, Executive Director of Native Voters Alliance Nevada, issued the following statement:
“Indigenous Peoples’ Day belongs to the ancestral stewards of this land, and no veto can change that. Our relatives fought relentlessly for this day. Tribal Nations, community members, educators, and allies stood shoulder to shoulder to win bipartisan support and place Indigenous Peoples’ Day where it belongs. The Governor may have vetoed it, but our voices were not silenced. We are still here, and we are not going anywhere.
“As we celebrate today, we can’t ignore that too many Indigenous families are still being left behind. Last week, the Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada’s WIC Services were forced to suspend operations during the government shutdown. While the USDA has since provided temporary funding, it offers no lasting stability. The WIC program provides vital nutrition support for more than 500 Indigenous families, many in rural communities where access to healthy food and medical care is already limited. When that lifeline disappears, babies go without formula, mothers go without vegetables, and families lose the dignity of choice.
“Too many Native families have waited by the phone, pinned flyers, and prayed for answers while the systems built to protect us looked away. We know the cost of invisibility and the lifesaving power of laws that bring our relatives home and keep our people safe. Our next Tribal legislative priority will keep building that safety and visibility so no Native family is ever left searching alone again. Nevada must understand this: we are here, we are leading, and we are shaping a future where Native lives and voices can no longer be ignored.
“If you want to take action today, donate to ITCN’s WIC Services and stand with Nevada’s Indigenous families.”
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