EVERETT — Snohomish County will start marking the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples’ Day, following the lead of other local governments, including Edmonds.
The County Council voted 5-0 Wednesday to make the change through a joint resolution with County Executive Dave Somers.
“Snohomish County recognizes that the Indigenous Peoples of the lands that would later become known as the Americas have occupied these lands since time immemorial,” the resolution says.
The resolution specifically recognizes the Coast Salish people of the Puget Sound region, including the Tulalip Tribes (who include the Snohomish, Snoqualmie and Skykomish people); as well as the Stillaguamish, Sauk-Suiattle, Suquamish and Lummi tribes.
Representatives from two civil rights groups, the Communities of Color Coalition and the Snohomish County Chapter of the NAACP, spoke in favor of the resolution.
The idea of observing Indigenous Peoples’ Day originated in 1977. It falls on the same day that many communities observe Columbus Day. It’s not a paid government holiday in Washington state.
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