Hartford committee sends resolution recognizing colonialism’s impact on Indigenous communities to full council

Hartford Court of Common Council’s Committee of the Whole voted Feb. 11 to send a resolution to the full council with a favorable recommendation that acknowledges the historical impact of colonialism on Indigenous communities and directs the city to seek partnerships that promote cultural revitalization and Indigenous self-determination.

The resolution asks the city to “seek to provide opportunities for native residents to reconnect with their cultural practice and ensure that indigenous voices are included in initiatives affecting their communities,” language read aloud at the meeting by Council President Shirley Surgeon.

The measure drew a presentation from Charles Teal, a retired chief of the Hartford Fire Department and longtime local historian, and representatives of the Sukiyag (Sukiyak) intertribal community. Teal, who described his work preserving memory of Hartford tragedies and history, told the committee the proposal rests on three practical goals. “It’s 3 things. Educate, memorialize, and apologize,” Teal said.

Miksa Sean, a presenter with the intertribal group, framed the resolution as…