Spotlight: Author Mark Charles of "Wireless Hogan" Urges Truth and Lament on Indigenous Peoples Day

27 October 2025

By The Echo Press News TV Staff

Navajo Social Justice

Picture Source: Mark Charles Go Fund Me Page: "Unsettling Truths - The Ongoing, Dehumanizing Legacy of the Doctrine of Discovery" published by InterVarsity Press in November of 2019. Support Indigenous Authors. Click the link: Fundraiser by Mark Charles : Help me fund my Unsettling Truths Book Tour 2022

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Navajo Nation: On a special edition of Native Bidaské, Mark Charles—Navajo author, activist, and co-author of "Unsettling Truths: The Ongoing, Dehumanizing Legacy of the Doctrine of Discovery"—offered a powerful reflection on the meaning of Indigenous Peoples Day, calling for honesty, lament, and relationship-building as the nation reckons with its past. Charles, known for challenging conventional narratives, emphasized that Indigenous Peoples Day should not simply replace Columbus Day, nor be reduced to a symbolic gesture. Instead, he argued, the day must serve as a catalyst for truth-telling about the history of colonization, the Doctrine of Discovery, and the ongoing impact on Native communities. “The voice, culture, and practices of Indigenous people are vital to understanding how we move forward in a healthy way as a nation,” Charles said. He advocated for Columbus Day to become a day of lament—a time to mourn and acknowledge the wrongs of the past—while reserving Indigenous Peoples Day for celebrating the resilience and cultures of Native peoples. (94) Native Bidaské Special: Indigenous Peoples Day Should Be About Truth - YouTube

Janene Yazzie (Navajo) Native American performing artist, consultant and keynote speaker on Native American rights, issues and using Indigenous philosophies as teaching aids   Picture Source: Red Hawk Native American Arts Council Artists — Redhawk Native American Arts Council

Charles explained that the Doctrine of Discovery, a series of 15th-century papal edicts, justified the dehumanization and dispossession of non-European peoples. He linked the celebration of Columbus to the perpetuation of this harmful legacy, noting that the United States often struggles to mourn its historical wrongs due to a persistent myth of American exceptionalism. “Lament is allowing yourself to sit in what’s broken,” Charles explained, likening it to examining a house’s faulty foundation before making repairs. Only by understanding the depth of the nation’s brokenness, he argued, can true healing and change begin.

Charles also addressed the role of media and the importance of critical thinking, urging Americans to seek out diverse perspectives and not rely solely on algorithm-driven news feeds. He encouraged non-Native allies to build genuine relationships with local Native communities, attend events, and engage year after year—not just on Indigenous Peoples Day.

As the conversation closed, Charles’s message was clear: Indigenous Peoples Day should be about truth, lament, and forging authentic connections, paving the way for a more honest and inclusive future. Wirelesshogan – by Mark Charles