10/12/2026
Good morning all. This is Gordon. As InnoNative’s COO and one of InnoNative’s non-Native team members, I wanted to share a peek behind the curtains. Here at InnoNative, Indigenous Peoples Day is a day that combines learning, honoring, and reflecting upon the past, present, and future of Native communities. For some, it is exploring the history and story of Native peoples. For others, it is building towards a future of parity, justice, and self-determination. For others still, it is a moment to celebrate resilience and be in community with one another.
For my family, this day is an intentional reminder of history, perspective, complexity, and duty—somber yet hopeful. As a parent to a 3- and 6-year old, part of my role is to help guide their understanding of Native history and apply the atrocities of the past towards more just decisions in the future. On this day, we look for space in nature to reflect on our obligations as stewards and guests of this land. The first photo is of the Hidden Falls at Nerstrand-Big Woods State Park, and is one of our favorite places to seek tranquility and serenity, to reflect and commune with nature, and to instill joy and wonderment in our kids.
Today, in these spaces, we will talk about displacement: of taking and of violence. We’ll talk about whose stories we hear (and read), and whose are missing. As tiny would-be authors, we’ll talk about the privilege and responsibility of shaping stories. We will talk about problems and challenges: gaps in what other children might have access to. We will talk about sometimes not knowing what the answer is (and personally, sometimes not even knowing what the question actually is). We’ll talk about optimism and pessimism, realism and cynicism—how our outlook may influence our willingness to act.
And we will talk about duty. As an Asian American immigrant, duty is a value that guides much of my decision making. So we reflect on our role, as humans generations removed from the atrocities of history, but still very much benefiting from a society built upon an unjust foundation; as a first, second, or even sixth generation immigrant whose ancestral stories do not begin here; as a momentary caretaker of a place that predates us and will outlast us. And we discuss our duty, to self, to others, and beyond. How can we be of service? How can we honor the obligations of privilege? And how can we carry these reflections and responsibilities beyond today?
I am eternally grateful to InnoNative and all of the amazing individuals, organizations, and communities I have had the privilege to work with. From my family to yours, we wish you all a restful, reflective, and restorative Indigenous Peoples Day.
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First photo of Hidden Falls at Nerstrand-Big Woods State Park. By McGhiever - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=19615048
Second photo of our 3- and 6-year old, hiking at Nerstrand-Big Woods State Park towards the Hidden Falls and beyond.
