{"id":62618,"date":"2025-11-04T18:38:11","date_gmt":"2025-11-04T18:38:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ndncollective.org\/?p=62618"},"modified":"2025-12-03T15:51:09","modified_gmt":"2025-12-03T15:51:09","slug":"when-indigenous-people-gather-rising-up-against-authoritarianism-during-indigenous-peoples-day-celebration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ndncollective.org\/when-indigenous-people-gather-rising-up-against-authoritarianism-during-indigenous-peoples-day-celebration\/","title":{"rendered":"When Indigenous People Gather: Rising Up Against Authoritarianism During Indigenous Peoples\u2019 Day Celebration","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Indigenous Peoples\u2019 Day 2025 served as a reminder for our people and the world that Indigenous communities have always and will continue to stand tall and proud in the face of great challenges. This was the third year NDN Collective hosted an Indigenous Peoples\u2019 Day event in Main Street Square of Mni Luzahan, AKA Rapid City, consisting of a rally, march and free community concert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The afternoon of Monday, October 13 started off with a rally of community organizers, Tribal leaders, Indigenous people of all ages, allies, accomplices and Rapid City-based organizations. Speakers at the rally included an elder of the movement, Madonna Thunder Hawk<\/a> (Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe<\/em>), who shared her gratitude for the changes that she\u2019s witnessed in the Rapid City community over the years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s good for me to see it like this, with all these signs and the young people coming together because back in the day, Rapid City wasn\u2019t like this. We had to fight our way in,\u201d she said. \u201cSo when you come to events like this, I hope you remember that people had to fight for us to be here. I\u2019m so grateful to all of you for coming here and still standing here. It\u2019s important, not just for us but for those who are watching us.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n

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Madonna Thunder Hawk and her granddaughter march toward downtown Rapid City during the Rise Up Against Authoritarianism march on Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Photo by Angel White Eyes.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\u201cYou know, wasicus really get nervous when Indians gather, they don\u2019t really know what to do,\u201d she added with a smile before handing the mic back to the remaining speakers. \u201cSo it\u2019s kind of fun to do this every now and again, to give them a little something to worry about.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the crowd lined up in preparation to march down 5th Street toward Main Street Square, an ATV pulled up to the front of the gathered people. From the vehicle emerged movement elder Leonard Peltier (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa<\/em>), the recently freed<\/a> American Indian Movement member who spent nearly 50 years behind bars for standing up against an unjust system. This was Leonard\u2019s first-ever Indigenous Peoples\u2019 Day celebration. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Nick Tilsen (left) and Leonard Peltier (right) stand with raised fists, leading the Rise Up Against Authoritarianism march down 5th Street in Rapid City, SD. Photo by Angel White Eyes. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

With minimal assistance, he made his way to the front of the march, right behind the large banner proclaiming: RISE UP AGAINST AUTHORITARIANISM. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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