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Letters to Legislators

Primary Citizen Action of the IPD Initiative

TPP believes the most efficient and effective way to inspire a national reorientation of the holiday on the second Monday in October to Indigenous Peoples’ Day is for the citizens of America who agree, of all ages, to request this change with a signed letter mailed to their elected representatives in the US Congress, their state and their locality. Towards that end the primary citizen action of the IPD Initiative is called Letters to Legislators – promoted by the hashtags #LettersToLegislators and #IPD101424 – which involves individual citizens and families across America mailing six (6) letters through the US Postal Service to their elected legislators listed below, hopefully using the beautiful Chief Standing Bear stamp introduced by USPS in May 2023.

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  • 3 Members of US Congress = 2 US Senators and 1 US Representative

  • 2 State Legislative Representatives (traditionally House and Senate)

  • 1 Local Legislative Representative (Councilor, Supervisor, Alderman, Manager etc.)

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Letters can offer the same simple message to each of the legislators:

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Dear [name of elected official], 

 

As a citizen of your jurisdiction I ask you to please support legislation presented to you reorienting the holiday on the second Monday in October to Indigenous Peoples’ Day. I believe it is the right thing to do and now is the right time to do it. 

 

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

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TPP has created an IPD letter template to make this as simple as possible. For easier identification in the various government mailrooms, letter writers are asked to please print "IPD” at the top of the return address section of the envelope, followed by sender name and address. We further suggest letter writers use this request as an opportunity to personalize their outreach by artistically presenting “IPD” on the envelope and putting return address information on the back. Here in Richmond, VA we have printed envelopes with a big IPD logo designed to allow for the letter writer's creative spirit to shine through to the legislator and their staff.

 

The Pocahontas Project sees this effort as a Democracy 101 class demonstrating the importance of citizens telling their elected representatives what they think – just like voting. Letter writers will find the entire process involves less than an hour, a splash of imagination and purpose, as well as a $5 investment = (6) $0.68 Chief Standing Bear stamps, (6) pieces of paper and (6) envelopes. Before mailing them, letter writers are asked to please take a picture of their letters and share the pic with family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, etc.-- using #LetterstoLegislators and #IDP101424--and encourage them to do likewise, creating a domino effect across the country.

 

This Letters to Legislators effort is democracy in action. Everyone who supports the IPD Initiative by sending letters to their legislators should feel proud they have participated in a core component of our American democratic process. And when we all celebrate Monday October 14, 2024 as Indigenous Peoples' Day across the USA, letter writers should feel like an agent of positive change for our country, because they are.

Letters to Legislators (LTL) Challenge

The Power of 10

IPD Initiative supporters of all ages are encouraged to accept the LTL Power of 10 Challenge = 10 letters to 10 legislators + recruit 10 IPD Dominoes (family, friend, colleague) to do the same

  • Personally send / arrange for others to send at least 10 Letters to their respective legislators

  • Recruit and commit 10 other people to send 10 letters and recruit 10 IPD Dominoes

  • Instead of a “chain letter”, it is a “change letter” campaign

Support from the IDP Initiative 

  • Customizable IPD template for the text of letters to legislators

  • IPD logo jpg graphic for labels for envelopes

  • USPS Chief Standing Bear stamp link

    • Forever Stamps sold 20/page with a tear off mini-poster of Chief Standing Bear = $13.60 + $1.70 handling  > Use 10 stamps for LTL and have 10 for the future​

  • USPS Chief Standing Bear Video

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Find My Representative

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Return on your time and $10 investment (10 stamps, envelopes and paper)

  • Use LTL to affect a fun and meaningful family connection – immediate and extended family

    • Most families will realize IPD is not a partisan issue and find everyone is in agreement on a subject of historic and cultural significance, offering an opportunity to build on that collaboration in the future

  • Update and strengthen your relationship with friends and colleagues who you recruit as IPD Dominoes

  • Embrace the power of civic pride as you play a role in our democratic process and work to affect positive change for the future of our country

    • Enjoy an annual burst of civic pride on the 2nd Monday in October = Indigenous Peoples’ Day

  • Become inspired to learn more about the history and culture of America’s Indigenous Communities

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Special Benefits

  • Individual businesses and organizations can set up internal benefits for those who accept the LTL Challenge – send a picture of your letters and get entered in contest

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