Stanford celebrates Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Published 5:22 pm Monday, October 9, 2017
STANFORD – On Monday, Stanford hosted the city’s first-ever Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration with a variety of Native American history and heritage on display.
A crowd of about 50 to 60 people gathered in the old Lincoln County Courthouse room Oct. 9 to hear the state’s first Indigenous Peoples’ Day proclamation read by Stanford Mayor Eddie Carter.
The proclamation, approved last month by the Stanford City Council, designated Oct. 9, 2017 as Indigenous Peoples’ Day, to be celebrated along with the federal Columbus Day holiday.
Kentucky Native American Heritage Commissioner and Lincoln County resident Angela Garner introduced several Native American speakers and musicians during the celebration Monday.
Lauri Lake, a Navajo, opened the festivities with a Native American prayer, along with English translations.
Following a few words from Lincoln Judge-Executive Jim Adams, Matthew Black Eagle Man performed on the Lakota hand drum while he sang what he called “The Encouragement Song.”
The audience also heard from Dr. Gwynn Henderson, senior staff archaeologist and education coordinator for the Kentucky Archaeology Survey, who spoke on the inaccuracy of teachings related to Kentucky Native American history, including the “dark and bloody ground.”
In full Native American garb, Jeff Hatmaker played several songs on the Native American flute.
Garner followed Hatmaker with a reading of the Native American poem “The Delight Song of Tsoai-talee” by N. Scott Momaday.
Monday’s celebration also included a musical performance by Ancestral Winds, with Dan Ward playing the Native American flute.
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