Read on to see how Indian Country is celebrating the Fourth of July, and be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
The following answers have been published as written.
June 2, 1924 is when Native peoples were granted US citizenship. To me the 4th of July is like Cinco de Mayo — a way for humans to make money.
— Melanie Tallmadge Sainz
This native Veteran enjoys duel citizenship, I will respect both defend both until the day I die, ask my dad, Ira Hayes, our beloved, Navajo code talkers, how they feel… learn from out tragic history don’t repeat it and look forward with open heart and mind. Former chairman of my beloved Suquamish People.
—Lyle Emerson George
I don’t get patriotic, given our history with America. I enjoy fireworks so I make it out to see them but that’s about it.
— Monica Lazur
We have a big powwow at Ft. Duschene that weekend every year!
— Erin Cahill
July 6 1889 Miskwaagamiiwi-zaaga’igan signed for Sovereignty. Their celebration is one of the Best I’ve ever seen.
— Monika Brunner
I just treat it like any other day off from work. Go boating with family, motorcycling, roping and a day to get away. And eat! Steaks! Crawfish!
— Austin Mix
I respect those that do celebrate it but I’m not “patriotic “ per say. Usually we go to a powwow.
— Tee Antone
We go camping and forget about the fireworks.
— Hooghan Lani
I watch Smoke Signals and have hot dogs.
—Onna Marie
I plan on finding a peaceful demonstration in a larger community to be a part of. Afterward you can celebrate the hard work and survival of you and your ancestors with your own fireworks.
— Nicoli Poitra
151st Quapaw Nation Powwow.
— Mary Wheeler-McCarty
I don’t. Only Earth Day, Indigenous People’s Day, summer and winter solstice, and Juneteeth.
— Apak T Hill
We don’t celebrate the creation of the country illegally occupying our land.
— Kelly Reagan Tudor
I only celebrate June 2. Day of Indian Citizenship Act. I’ll think about celebrating a different day when they honor the Fort Laramie Treaty.
— Bunny Vardanega
I don’t. So called independence day didn’t apply to us, and still doesn’t. This does not mean that I don’t support military personnel. They have my utmost respect and I honor them year round for their service to people.
— Sibyl Enciso Esquivel
Not a special day to me (at over seven decades of age), we celebrate our warriors on Vets Days too but this day seems to be in honor of the whole notion of it’s birthday and independence from their mother country of europe. We (Native/Indigenous People) don’t have any connections to that “independence” at all. It does remind us that their arrival that destroyed us almost completely.
— Berni SantaMaria
Southern Cheyenne and Arapaho celebrate the new year at this time after ceremony.
— Abigail Wilson
Why celebrate a colonizer’s holiday? The government and the millions of its non-indigenous peoples that live in our lands don’t respect us. Our treaties have yet to be fulfilled. I personally don’t celebrate anymore. Just another day.
— Tÿłēr Brïdgę
