Indigenous Peoples' Day: Honoring Community and History

Today, we celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day, a time to honor and recognize the rich cultures, contributions, and histories of Indigenous communities across the United States. This day serves as a reminder of the ongoing impact of colonization and the resilience of Indigenous peoples. Indigenous Peoples Day is celebrated on the second Monday of October each year. 

Indigenous communities have faced erasure and marginalization, often misrepresented through harmful stereotypes, media, and caricatures. They continue to confront systemic violence and disenfranchisement. Acknowledging their struggles and achievements requires more than a designated day. It is essential to elevate Indigenous voices, support their communities, and engage in practices that promote awareness of their joys and challenges. We must actively challenge injustices against Indigenous peoples.

About Indigenous Peoples' Day
In 2021, President Biden issued the first presidential proclamation of Indigenous Peoples Day. South Dakota was the first state to celebrate "Native American Day" in 1990 as a counter to "Columbus Day." Berkeley, California, was the first city to recognize Indigenous Peoples' Day in 1992, protesting the 500th anniversary of Columbus's arrival.

Despite the observance of Indigenous Peoples Day, many still refer to this day as "Columbus Day," celebrating Christopher Columbus and the self-proclaimed "discovery" of the New World. However, history reveals that Columbus was not the first to discover the Americas, and honoring "Columbus Day" overlooks the brutal treatment and genocide of Indigenous peoples. His voyages led to the near extinction of the Taino people and marked the beginning of widespread colonization in the Caribbean.

Uplifting Voices: We are called to elevate Indigenous voices, actively support their communities, uplift the untold histories, and challenge the injustices they continue to face. By doing so, we commit to promoting awareness of both their joys and challenges.

As we acknowledge the land our university occupies, we pay tribute to those who originally cared for it and confront the historical and ongoing injustices faced by displaced communities. This acknowledgment must serve as a foundation for genuine commitment and action to support Indigenous communities, past, present, and future. Land acknowledgments are just the first step in recognizing Indigenous peoples and their histories. We encourage everyone to honor the Indigenous peoples who came before us, those who are present today, and future generations, celebrating their rich legacies. 

We extend our deepest gratitude to all Indigenous faculty, staff, and students at UMBC.

Join us today as we celebrate and honor Indigenous Peoples Day for our Donuts & Dialogue event in collaboration with the UMBC Indigenous Peoples' Union. Stop by the Mosaic Center from 12-1pm. 

Join IPU on October 16 for their Interest Mixer. Learn more at their myUMBC page here. 

Hello UMBC Community,

We rely on Duo two-factor authentication to protect our accounts, and it's an excellent defense. However, cybercriminals are always looking for new ways to get past our security. This week's topic is all about what to do if you receive a Duo push notification you didn't initiate.

You're working on your computer, not logging into anything new, and suddenly your phone buzzes with Duo push notifications, including SMS texts or phone calls from Duo. What's happening? This is likely an attacker who has obtained your password and is attempting to bypass Duo to access your account.

Your immediate action is critical.

• Do NOT Approve It: The most important thing is to never approve a Duo push notification you did not initiate. Approving it will give the attacker access to your account.

• Deny the Request: Decline the request on your phone.

• Report as Fraudulent: If you can, mark the notification as fraudulent.

• Change Your Password: Immediately change your password on a trusted device or computer. This will invalidate the password the attacker is using.

Remember, a Duo push notification is like a digital handshake. You must be the one to initiate it. If someone else is trying to shake your hand, don't approve the connection!

If you received a Duo push notification you did not initiate, deny the request, change your password, and immediately report the event to the security team at security@umbc.edu. Your report helps protect everyone!

Stay safe out there.

This Week in EA

• Heritage Seekers: Hot Topic Sessions | Tuesday, Oct. 14 | 12:00-12:30PM | Virtual
  Curious about exploring your heritage while studying abroad and turning your journey into a deeper connection with your roots? Come join us in this Hot Topic Session!

• Latinx Film Festival | Wednesday, Oct. 15 | 5:00-7:00PM | Lecture Hall 1
  Join the Modern Languages, Linguistics, and Intercultural Communication Department for Hispanic Heritage Month on the Screen! Unleash the story of "Ana, her struggles as a first generation Mexican-American teenager and her dream of going to college" in Real Women Have Curves. Dr. Thania Muñoz-Davaslioglu will introduce the film and guide a short discussion after. 

• Study Abroad in Hungary with Hop Education Abroad due October 15th
  More information below!

• Learn more about the UMBC alumni who are now participating in their Fulbright programs! See if you are Fulbright material, and start planning early for the 2027-28 application cycle!

Recurring Events

This week's Faculty-Led Study Abroad Virtual Drop-in Hours are canceled. If you have any questions about Faculty-Led Programs, please email educationabroad@umbc.edu. 

$5000 Scholarship to Study Abroad in Hungary!

Hop Education Abroad, in partnership with UMBC, is offering a one-time $5,000 scholarship for the Spring 2026 semester at the University of Pécs in Hungary. This scholarship brings the cost of a full-semester program in Europe down significantly, making it one of the most affordable options currently available. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, October 15th! If you have any questions or are ready to apply, please contact us at educationabroad@umbc.edu!

Reserve a seat and get the WebEx llnk by registering here.

This second session builds on Dr. Shumacher's first session.  Slides and a video of that session are available here.