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January 9, 2019 8:45 AM Subscribe
The First Day Native Women Served on Capitol Hill
On the first day of the 116th Congress, atop a ridge known as Capitol Hill but that was once the domain of the Piscataway people, two Native American women—Deb Haaland of the Laguna Pueblo and first district of New Mexico and Sharice Davids of the Ho-Chunk Nation and third district of Kansas—stood on the floor of the House of Representatives. There have been nearly 11,000 members of Congress, but this would be the first time that Indigenous women walked these halls as legislators.
On the first day of the 116th Congress, atop a ridge known as Capitol Hill but that was once the domain of the Piscataway people, two Native American women—Deb Haaland of the Laguna Pueblo and first district of New Mexico and Sharice Davids of the Ho-Chunk Nation and third district of Kansas—stood on the floor of the House of Representatives. There have been nearly 11,000 members of Congress, but this would be the first time that Indigenous women walked these halls as legislators.
So great to see this, feels important.
Also, I don't want to do a MeTa because it's been done already earlier last year but poffin boffin has just been on an incredibly informative and well put together streak of posts about indigenous people since at least last August. Thank you!
posted by Wretch729 at 9:49 AM on January 9, 2019 [19 favorites]
Also, I don't want to do a MeTa because it's been done already earlier last year but poffin boffin has just been on an incredibly informative and well put together streak of posts about indigenous people since at least last August. Thank you!
posted by Wretch729 at 9:49 AM on January 9, 2019 [19 favorites]
Not to get into too much of a derail, but my goal these past few months hasn't just been raising awareness of indigenous issues, it's been normalizing indigenous issues. Getting people used to the fact that indigenous issues are a normal part of the news cycle and not something unusual to see, or only something that you see when some kind of atrocity or tragedy is happening. Getting people used to the idea that they should if not seek it out themselves, then at least be interested in learning more when something new crosses their twitter/facebook/etc feed. My other goal was to get other mefites interested in finding and posting their own fpps about indigenous issues, because again, interest in such things should be normal and acceptable and accessible for everyone. It is slow going but I think it's working out.
posted by poffin boffin at 9:59 AM on January 9, 2019 [49 favorites]
posted by poffin boffin at 9:59 AM on January 9, 2019 [49 favorites]
Thank you for this post, and your effort to normalize indigenous issues!
Respect to representatives Deb Haaland and Sharice Davids!
posted by filthy light thief at 11:01 AM on January 9, 2019 [2 favorites]
Respect to representatives Deb Haaland and Sharice Davids!
posted by filthy light thief at 11:01 AM on January 9, 2019 [2 favorites]
That's my representative y'all, and I couldn't be happier. GO DEB!
posted by endotoxin at 1:30 PM on January 9, 2019 [7 favorites]
posted by endotoxin at 1:30 PM on January 9, 2019 [7 favorites]
I'm so relieved that Kansas finally has one representative it can proudly claim. Davids doesn't represent my district, but I am grateful to the folks who elected her.
posted by bryon at 8:27 PM on January 9, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by bryon at 8:27 PM on January 9, 2019 [1 favorite]
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posted by limeonaire at 9:35 AM on January 9, 2019 [4 favorites]