The City of Bozeman, Montana, has passed a resolution to recognize Indigenous Peoples' Day on the second Monday in October, replacing Columbus Day. This decision acknowledges the historical injustices faced by Indigenous peoples and emphasizes their contributions to the community and culture. The resolution encourages local businesses and public schools to support and educate about Indigenous Peoples' Day.

1. COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF BOZEMAN, MONTANA, TO RECOGNIZE INDIGENOUS
PEOPLES’ DAY ON THE SECOND MONDAY IN OCTOBER
Authored by: Sheldon Spotted Elk, Ruth Ann Hall Swaney, Marsha F. Small, and Marsha M.
Fulton
Sponsored by: Native American Studies, Montana State University and Extreme HistoryProject
WHEREAS, the State of Montana recognizes through its highest law, the State Constitution, Article X
§ 1(2), the distinct and unique cultural heritage of the American Indians and iscommitted
in its educational goals to the preservation of their cultural integrity; and
WHEREAS, the City of Bozeman, as a political subdivision of the State of Montana, embraces its
responsibility to promote equality and the historical integrity of American Indians,
especially the thirteen (13) Tribes of the state; and constitutes the largest minority group
resident in the State of Montana; and
WHEREAS, the City recognizes Indigenous peoples are the original inhabitants from time
immemorial of the lands that now constitutes the City of Bozeman; and
WHEREAS, the City, recognizes the important contributions of Indigenous Peoples, the regions rich
American Indian history and contemporary cultural influences that contribute to our
beautifully diverse community; and
WHEREAS, the City, opposes any and all systemic forms of racism towards humanity, expressly
Indigenous Peoples, which have been subjugated by policies aimed at assimilating and at
times, eradicating their cultural existence; and
WHEREAS, colonial influences first historically documented in 1492, intended to dispossess
resources and lands from Indigenous Peoples, and enslavement of the Indigenous
population amounted to no less than genocide; and
WHEREAS, genocide is the deliberate and systemic destruction of a racial, political, or cultural group;
and
WHEREAS, the following cities have renamed Columbus Day as Indigenous People’s Day; Seattle,
Washington; Minneapolis, Minnesota; St. Paul, Minnesota; Berkeley, California;
Albuquerque, New Mexico; Lawrence, Kansas; Portland, Oregon; Anadarko, Oklahoma;
Olympia, Washington; Alpena, Michigan, Carrboro, North Carolina; Missoula,Montana;
and Bear County Texas; and

2. WHEREAS, Cornell University; University of California, Berkeley; University of Montana; and other
universities are officially recognizing indigenous peoples’ day in place of Columbus day;
and
WHEREAS, Hawaii, South Dakota, Oregon, California, and Alaska do not observe Columbus Day; and
WHEREAS, Indigenous Peoples’ Day is a day that aims to recognize and commemorate the
contributions of Native people; and
WHEREAS, the City, recognizes and celebrates the cultural survival and resilience of American
Indians against genocide; and
WHEREAS, the accurate recognition of this history is important to all humanity that we shall never
forget these atrocities, so they shall never occur again;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the City of Bozeman, Montana supports the
contributions of American Indians to our community, economy, and rich culture by replacing the
observance of Columbus Day with the observance of Indigenous People’s Day; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the City of Bozeman and its departments shall encourage businesses
within the City to support Indigenous Peoples Day and contributions of Indigenous Peoples in our
society; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the City of Bozeman to strongly encourage Bozeman Public Schools to
include the teaching of Indigenous Peoples Day, and why it is no longer observed as Columbus Day; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the Mayor and the City of Bozeman jointly declares the second
Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples’ Day in the City of Bozeman, Montana.