About Us

The 500th anniversary of the arrival of Europeans to the lands that would be collectively called the Americas took place in 1992, with celebrations taking place around the world. Countless Indigenous communities formed their own remembrances of the half-millennium of colonization, genocide, and racism. In Cleveland, a multi-racial group of activists formed their own committee to plan a memorial for the event that changed the world forever.

Coming together to follow Indigenous teachings, leadership, and organizing, the committee grew to consist of several activist organizations and individuals – both Native and non-Native allies. This alliance held a major protest in Cleveland and took up the name “The Committee of 500 Years of Dignity and Resistance.”

Following this protest, the Committee of 500 Years became a key organizer of the ongoing protests of Native American mascots, something that many of the founding members had been long active in. With its location in the Cleveland area, a primary goal of the Committee was to see the name of the Cleveland Major League Baseball Team changed and its racist mascot retired. After years of organizing, and working with multiple international and local organizations with shared goals of resisting coloniality, the Committee of 500 Years and its allies were successful with the rebranding of the Cleveland Team starting in the 2022 Season.

The Committee of 500 Years continues its Indigenous Rights work through public outreach, education, and partnerships with schools, universities, and cultural rights organizations. The move away from racist and harmful stereotypes and imagery of Native Americans remains a key focus of the Committee, with over 200 public schools in Ohio using Native mascots today – most as a result of the long-term presence of the Cleveland MLB Team name. Advancing public understanding of Indigenous histories, heritages, and presents while also seeking to address the numerous cultural rights issues that face Native People and communities today is a critical step for the Committee toward creating lasting change and respect for Native sovereignty and identity.

The Committee of 500 Years of Dignity and Resistance is a grassroots non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. All donations are tax exempt.