The 13th of June and Indigenous Peoples Day are now municipal holidays in Anchorage.
This comes after an Anchorage Assembly voted Tuesday night to add the two holiday days in the category of holidays paid of municipal staff. In the beginning, the ordinance would’ve also eliminated Seward’s Day from the municipal holidays however, the mayor Dave Bronson amended the ordinance to include it.
The Juneteenth celebration is a tradition that dates back to June 19th, 1865, the day on which the last slaves from the Confederacy were informed of their liberation following the Emancipation Proclamation. It’s usually regarded as the longest-running celebration of Black Americans, signifying the successful closing of slavery across the United States.
Celeste Hodge, the president of the non-profit Alaska Black Caucus, said she hoped that the city would follow in the footsteps of the United States which has a Juneteenth national holiday. It is also a holiday in that of the states in which a suggestion to declare it a holiday of the state is being looked at.
“It’s more than just giving employees the opportunity to take a day free,” Hodge-Growden said. “It will allow residents the opportunity to consider the future we would like to see as well as reminiscing about the injustices from the past. I am thrilled that by the fact that the Assembly is taking up this resolution.”
Indigenous Peoples Day is a holiday that celebrates Alaska Native and Native American culture. It’s usually celebrated in the absence on Columbus Day. It’s been a national holiday since the year 2017. The Anchorage native Ayyu Qassataq, also known as Inupiaq was a witness in support of both of the holidays.
“Recognizing Indigenous Peoples Day and Juneteenth Freedom Day are but one of the steps to raise the consciousness of the rich, sometimes inequitable histories of these diverse peoples whose stories need to be respected and acknowledged,” Qassatuq said by phone.
The ordinance was ratified unanimously.
