The blood-stained history of our country is no secret. In recent years, there has been an increase in awareness of Indigenous history as a part of North American history. Countless Indigenous people around the world, not just in America, were historically slaughtered by colonizers in the name of “civilization,” driven by the desire for land and expansion.

Quinnipiac University is named after the Quinnipiac tribe, who were indigenous people. They lived along the Quinnipiac river, where the university is located now. This begs the question, what is being done on campus to educate students about Quinnipiac’s Indigenous history and to honor the legacy of those who were here before Christopher Columbus?

This is unsurprisingly an easy question. In my short time at Quinnipiac, I have seen nothing commemorating the history of Indigenous people. I have never seen or heard an announcement for an event, an Instagram post, or anything related to Indigenous history on campus. Even if the school has done anything, it’s not even close to being enough.

This brings us to Indigenous People’s Day, which, if I may remind you, we do not take as a holiday. Indigenous People’s Day came about in opposition to Columbus Day, a federal holiday commemorating Christopher Columbus’ arrival in October 1492 to the “New World,” where Native Americans had already established civilizations. Many institutions take the day off, regardless of whether or not they have Indigenous ties. But Quinnipiac does not.

The complete disregard of our institution’s indigenous roots goes against everything Quinnipiac claims to stand for. Recognizing Indigenous People’s Day isn’t just about taking the day off, it’s about fostering an inclusive and respectful environment by promoting social justice and equity, which it seems Quinnipiac doesn’t prioritize.

It is shameful that Quinnipiac does not recognize the rich history of the Quinnipiac tribe. Clearly, it is just a name to the university. The university had countless opportunities to hold events, workshops, discussions and even academic courses to educate students on Indigenous history, especially of the Quinnipiac people. This failure to recognize indigenous history reinforces colonialist practices of cultural erasure and harmful stereotypes.

Disregarding Indigenous history overlooks the many negative impacts of colonialism that have devastated these communities throughout history. It silences Indigenous voices and perspectives from being heard and valued, and fails to address historical grievances in order to work towards justice and reparations.

Indigenous people deserve to be recognized, honored and valued. Educating ourselves on Indigenous history and recognizing Quinnipiac’s Indigenous roots contribute to the richness of human diversity. Recognition supports Indigenous rights, including self-determination and cultural preservation. It fosters equity and social justice, which promotes understanding across all communities and the importance of respecting diverse worldviews.

In a time where Indigenous people all over the world still face injustices of displacement, ethnic cleansing, cultural erasure, environmental colonialism and genocide, not recognizing Indigenous history allows these atrocities to continue. This allows for systematic inequalities and discrimination to prolong. This irreparable damage caused to Indigenous people and the failure to recognize it deepens division and hinders social progress, understanding and healing.

As a community that claims to value and promote diversity, equity and inclusion, Quinnipiac has a unique opportunity to honor its namesake and rich history of the land on which it is located by formally recognizing Indigenous People’s Day. This day not only serves as a celebration of Indigenous culture, but an acknowledgement of the historical injustices faced by indigenous communities.