2020-21 Academic Year

Commemorating Indigenous Peoples’ Day at Columbia

October 09, 2020

Dear Students,

We write to mark the first anniversary of the University Senate resolution to recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day at Columbia and share opportunities with you to get involved in commemorative events happening across our community. 

Recognition of this day builds upon earlier steps to honor the Indigenous peoples who have lived on the land upon which Columbia is built. In 2016, Columbia officially recognized the Lenape people who lived in this area before and during its colonization by placing a commemorative plaque on University grounds. With these and other efforts, we hope to make this community more welcoming and inclusive of all current and future Native and Indigenous student scholars, faculty and staff.

Learn more about the University Senate resolution to recognize Indigenous Peoples' Day and read a guest post from the Native American Council at Columbia on the placement of the plaque.

Events Around Columbia next week:

Many events hosted by schools and institutes across Columbia offer you an opportunity to learn and participate. All times are ET.

  • Columbia University School of Nursing Indigenous Peoples' Day: Emergence/Submergence, Monday, 10/12, 1-2:30 PM
  • Indigenous Peoples of the Americas and the COVID-19 Pandemic, University Seminars, Monday, 10/12, 7-9 PM
  • Indigenous Peoples’ Day: Ella Cara Deloria Lecture, exploring the intersections of Black and Indigenous Identities, Monday, 10/12, 6 PM
  • Indigenous Peoples’ Rights and Elections, part of the Election and Human Rights Series from the Institute for the Study of Human Rights, Wednesday, 10/14, 12:10-1:30 PM
  • Native Women & Politics: Double Feature Screening of WITHOUT A WHISPER - KONNON:KWE and PAULETTE, Thursday, 10/15, 8-9 PM

We’re now one week into Columbia’s Community Citizenship Initiative and, in that spirit, we invite you to take advantage of the opportunity to attend these and other events and consider the ways you can continue to cultivate an inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone at Columbia. Please write to us at [email protected] with your ideas, suggestions or feedback.

In community,

Professor Suzanne B. Goldberg
Executive Vice President for University Life

Joseph Defraine Greenwell
Vice President for Student Affairs, University Life

Ixchel Rosal
Associate Vice President for Student Life, University Life