{"id":39869,"date":"2025-10-10T00:01:16","date_gmt":"2025-10-10T04:01:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/?p=39869"},"modified":"2025-10-09T16:53:58","modified_gmt":"2025-10-09T20:53:58","slug":"this-indigenous-peoples-day-demands-environmental-justice-and-organic-transition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2025\/10\/this-indigenous-peoples-day-demands-environmental-justice-and-organic-transition\/","title":{"rendered":"This Indigenous Peoples\u2019 Day Demands Environmental Justice and Organic Transition"},"content":{"rendered":"

(Beyond Pesticides, October 10-13, 2025) On Indigenous Peoples\u2019 Day (Monday, October 13), Beyond Pesticides acknowledges that we recognize that the land we are situated on is the ancestral lands of the Ncothtank (Anacostan), and neighboring Piscataway and Pamunkey peoples, who have served as stewards for the region\u2019s land, water, and air for generations. In reverence for the sovereignty and leadership of First Nations, and with respect for the wisdom of Indigenous peoples globally, environmental and public health advocates continue to advocate for the elimination of petrochemical-based pesticides and fertilizers, and the advancement of organic regenerative criteria that align with ecologically-based food and land management systems.<\/p>\n

This year, Indigenous Peoples\u2019 Day falls on the petrochemical fertilizer industry-supported Global Fertilizer Day, which promotes synthetic fertilizers, rather than recognizing the value of agroecology\u2014the shared understanding of the inextricable link that binds agricultural and ecological systems.<\/p>\n

Reflection of Turbulent U.S. Position on Indigenous Sovereignty<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The federal holiday on October 13, traditionally known as Columbus Day, has for many been reoriented to recognize that the \u201cdiscovery\u201d of the Americas was, in fact, an invasion of the Western hemisphere by European colonists who expropriated unceded land and devastated Indigenous cultures, self-governance, and ways of life. In fact, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples<\/a> (UNDRIP), adopted in 2007, found:<\/p>\n

\u201c[I]ndigenous peoples have suffered from historic injustices as a result of, inter alia, their colonization and dispossession of their lands, territories and resources, thus preventing them from exercising, in particular, their right to development in accordance with their own needs and interests.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Biden Administration took steps toward recognizing Indigenous systems when issuing proclamations on previous Indigenous Peoples\u2019 Days in 2021<\/a>, 2022<\/a>, 2023<\/a>, and 2024<\/a>, as covered in previous Daily News<\/em>. The 2024 Proclamation on Indigenous Peoples\u2019 Day reads as follows:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe history of America\u2019s Indigenous peoples is marked by perseverance, survival, and a deep commitment to and pride in their heritage, right to self-governance, and ways of life.\u00a0Since time immemorial, Indigenous peoples have built and sustained powerful Tribal Nations, cultivated rich cultures, and established vibrant communities.\u00a0And their discoveries and knowledge still benefit us today. But because of our Nation\u2019s failed policies of the past, generations of Native peoples have faced cruelty, violence, and intimidation.\u00a0They were forced to leave their homelands, prohibited from speaking their own languages and practicing their sacred traditions, and forced into assimilation.\u00a0Indigenous lives were lost, livelihoods were ripped away, and communities were fundamentally altered.\u00a0 Despite the trauma and turmoil, Indigenous peoples have persisted and survived.\u00a0 Their stories are testaments to the bravery and resolve of generations to preserve their heritage, cultures, and identities for those to come after them.\u201d<\/p>\n

In May, President Trump said he would not recognize Indigenous Peoples\u2019 Day<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Numerous funding pools and programs are being targeted for dismantling, as highlighted by the National Indian Health Board<\/a>, as well as a joint report<\/a> produced by Portland State University (PSU) and Northwest Environmental Justice Center. The Trump Administration\u2019s Discretionary Budget Request<\/a>, proposed for Fiscal Year 2026, includes:<\/p>\n