Foggo Helps Earn ‘Indigenous Day’ Recognition

September 20, 2017

Bermudian Jean Foggo Simon Bermuda Sept 2017Bermudian Jean Foggo Simon — a St. David’s islander of Native descent currently living in Oberlin, Ohio — has been instrumental in convincing that city’s council to change ‘Columbus Day’ to ‘Indigenous Peoples Day.’

According to Time Magazine, Indigenous Peoples Day celebrates Native Americans and challenges the idea that Christopher Columbus ‘discovered’ America.

Berkeley was the first city, and South Dakota the first state to recognize the holiday, and Oberlin is the first Ohio city to officially make such a change.

Ms. Foggo Simon told Bernews, “In October 2016, after the City Council listened to a presenter to abolish Columbus Day in the City of Oberlin, Ohio and did not pass a resolution, three of us decided to form a committee to study the atrocities of Christopher Columbus, and we learned a tremendous amount that is not taught to children.

“Since he landed in the islands instead of the Americas, I was immediately on board. After months of research, I ventured to write an actual Resolution and we presented that to City Council. I had experience in that field as I had served for 22 years as the City Clerk/Clerk of Council in Oberlin. Our persistence in a respectful manner paid off.

“On August 21, the third reading of the Resolution to abolish Columbus Day and acknowledge Indigenous Peoples’ Day in the City of Oberlin passed with a seven ayes and zero nays vote. We are the first city in the State of Ohio to pass such a Resolution.”

A story in The Chronicle said “With enthusiasm, the Oberlin City Council changed the second Monday in October from Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day.

“The unanimous vote for the resolution was anticipated, though it was not without opposition. Council voted about 8:15 p.m. Monday after nearly an hour of public comment from people for and against replacing the federally recognized holiday.

“Jean Simon spoke on behalf of the committee and thanked Council for its efforts.

“We cannot remain invisible anymore,” Simon said. “When the original people of the land speak up and speak out, it’s with great thought, and we’ve asked you to listen, and you’ve done that,” Simon said. “The time for our healing is now. To quote an old Chinese proverb, ‘Those who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those doing it.’ ”

“Several others thanked Council, including Sundance, executive director of the Cleveland American Indian Movement and a resident of Oberlin, and Jeff Pierce, spokesman for the Ohio American Indian Movement.

“Included in the resolution is an invitation to businesses, organizations and public entities, including the school district, to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day and include information about the history of indigenous peoples in curriculum.

“As part of its passage, the city will revise its calendars and take other actions to implement Indigenous Peoples Day.”

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Comments (24)

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  1. Ms. G says:

    Congratulations Jean!!!❤

    • Onion Juice says:

      Thats GOOD, now lets see if we can change George Somers Day to Sally Bassett Day.

      • Double S says:

        Why? George Somers didn’t conquer Bermuda.

        You truly are the epitome of ignorant.

      • really says:

        You just pulled something that could be seen as divisive out of that has no relevance to the article.

        WHY?

        • Onion Juice says:

          Europeans have plundered and disrupted indiginous cultures and land for centuries and built up their countries with de wealth that they stole and free labour.
          No one is held accountable for the wealth that was stolen and countless people killed for greed, while de lands that they left in disarray has to be sorted out by de natives.

      • bee says:

        now that you’ve shown yourself to be completely ignorant of Bermuda’s history, there’s just one question we all have: are you a racist?

      • Anbu says:

        Nope.

      • wahoo says:

        You get dumber every day. It must be lonely for you up there in you-dopier.

  2. J R Smith says:

    Slowly but surely the creator brings the truth to light. It’s never too late to hold them accountable for their atrocities against our ancestors. Much respect Miss Foggo.

  3. Jean Foggo Simon says:

    Thanks to you and thanks so very much to Bernews.com for including the
    stories of those of us live abroad. Our struggle continues.

    • BDALion says:

      Sorry I might be ignorant, but could you define ‘our struggle’?

      If I understand fully, I might be on board…

      • Onion Juice says:

        The struggle is PEOPLE of colour getting recognition and being a part in a RACIST SOCIETY after being economically, socially and politically disenfranchiesd through legislative and biased policies.

        • BDALion says:

          Okay – seen.

          Tell me when the struggle is over. What needs to happen so that people “in the struggle” can finally go – job done.

          Or is this struggle a perpetual state of mind?

  4. Warrior says:

    Takes a Warrior to get things done. Congratulations Aunt Jean

  5. Toni Parker-Johnson says:

    That’s my beautiful Cousin. Another trendsetter.

  6. SDI Forevee says:

    Well done Auntie. Nice to see our ancestors finally recognised.

  7. Jean Foggo Simon says:

    The struggle for recognition, education, equal employment, etc., the Indigenous Peoples of the world are treated unfairly no matter the countries they live in. There is intergenerational trauma, drug use, alcoholism, etc., that continues on in innocent children if parents have over indulged. To acknowledge a man such as Christopher Columbus, who took lives of Indigenous Peoples as a sport is now 525 years old, and if we ever needed to acknowledge the descendants of those who gave their lives and still do at times, the time is long overdue. To celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day, instead of Columbus Day is long overdue. 1492-2017. Truth rises.

    • Toodle-oo says:

      Then it sounds like you need to take your fight to the Americas as there were no ‘indigenous people’ here back when Bda was settled in 1609 .