A local St. Joseph museum shares history of Native Americans on Indigenous Peoples’ Day

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- Every second Monday in October, the United States celebrates Indigenous Peoples' Day.

The day has been met with controversy. Recently, President Donald Trump signed his own proclamation to 'reclaim' Columbus Day, even though in 2021, former President Joe Biden became the first U.S. president to issue a presidential proclamation recognizing Indigenous Peoples' Day.

Indigenous Peoples' Day is used to celebrate and recognize the history and culture of Indigenous Americans.

News-Press NOW visited the St. Joseph Museums to learn more about the day.

On the visit Archaeologist and the NAGPRA coordinator, Tori Zieger, shared some rich history of Native Americans in and outside of St. Joseph.

"All of this material was excavated either in 1966 or 1972 on Kings Hill here in Saint Joseph. These artifacts represent the people who were living here around the year 1700. They are part of a cultural phase called the Oneota," said Zieger.

The excavated artifacts from King Hill show some things, like the mano and metate that the Oneota culture used for grinding corn and grains.

The archaeology exhibit shared so much more history, such as how the stages of the excavation worked, and animals the indigenous would hunt, such as mammoth and mastodon skeletal remains.

The Native American galleries contain so much more rich and important history outside of St. Joseph, around the United States. Things such as southwestern Navajo jewelry made out of turquoise, and the baskets that show off the artistic and cultural differences between tribes. 

Zieger stressed the importance of this holiday.

"I think it is important to really think about why there is controversy and what harm it is, and to celebrate people that are different and beautiful and developed. And we're here before us," said Zieger.

Zieger urges people to learn more about the indigenous culture and experience the exhibit for themselves.