KWSO News 10/14/19

Indigenous People’s Day, for Native People formerly known as Columbus Day, has been a source of protest for Tribes for since President Roosevelt made it a National holiday in 1937. According to the Smithsonian.com, the movement to replace the name of the holiday has gained momentum and spread to states, cities and towns across the United States. This year the nation’s capital passed a resolution to change the holiday to Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Several States, including Oregon, Idaho, New Mexico, South Dakota and many more now observe Native American or Indigenous Peoples’ Day in place of or in addition to Columbus Day. Even so, mythology about Columbus and the “discovery” of the Americas continues to be many American children’s first classroom lesson.

A handful of states are celebrating their first Indigenous Peoples Day on Monday as part of a trend to move away from a day honoring Christopher Columbus. The change to Indigenous Peoples Day prompted some backlash in conservative circles and among Italian Americans. University of Maine College Republicans, for example, described the move as part of a “radical left-wing agenda.” But Native Americans in some states have welcomed the change and said it was time to pay homage to Native Americans instead of Columbus. Democratic New Mexico state Rep. Derrick Lente of Sandia Pueblo, the sponsor of the New Mexico legislation that changed the holiday to Indigenous Peoples Day, said the day allows reflection on the United States’ complicated history. Adopting the holiday, he said, provides some restorative justice for indigenous communities.

Oregon may soon allow customers to bring their own reusable food containers to grocery stores and restaurants in an effort to curb plastic waste.The Statesman Journal reports that’s not currently allowed under U.S. Food and Drug Administration rules, which Oregon has adopted, because of the potential for cross-contamination with pathogens or allergens. But pressure to change state regulations has been mounting, state officials said, following China’s decision in January 2018 to stop allowing many items from the U.S. to be imported for recycling. Oregon is starting with a look at rules for grocery stores, which ODA licenses and inspects. Rule changes for restaurants likely will soon follow, said Dave Martin, Foodborne Illness Prevention Program coordinator at the Oregon Health Authority. OHA licenses and inspects restaurants, through county health departments.

Locally, Madras White Buffalo Football action saw the Cavaliers of Blanchet Catholic come in to stampede stadium and get trampled by the Buffaloes 28-7.  Madras is looking to extend their winning streak as they travel to Scio on Friday to take on the Loggers who are coming off of a home loss to Yamhill-Carlton.