Because of the “rich, thriving cultures” possessed by Native Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Alaska Natives, and the “generations of reprehensible discrimination during which they were subjected to violence, deprivation, and forced assimilation,” Iowa City Mayor Jim Throgmorton declared November National Native American Heritage Month at Monday’s City Council meeting.

Throgmorton encouraged locals to celebrate the heritage of these people, who have been subjected to wrongdoing for hundreds of years, and were in America “long before Europeans came to the North American continent.”

Joe Coulter, human rights commission chair for the city of Iowa City, accepted the proclamation at Monday’s meeting.

“On behalf of our native community here in Iowa City, and the state of Iowa, I want to thank you – the council members and the city of Iowa City – for this National Native American Heritage Month,” Coulter said.

Coulter also expressed his gratitude for the establishment of Indigenous Peoples Day, which was celebrated on Oct. 9.

“Our students here, our other members of the native community here and across the state thank you, Iowa City,” Coulter said.

—Charles Peckman