HOUSE MEMORIAL 116

53rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2017

INTRODUCED BY

Derrick J. Lente

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR TO DECLARE NOVEMBER 15, 2017 "ROCK YOUR MOCS DAY" IN NEW MEXICO.

     WHEREAS, rock your mocs is a worldwide Native American and indigenous peoples movement uniting people through moccasins and social media; and

     WHEREAS, rock your mocs day is held annually and concurrently with November's national Native American heritage month in the United States; and

     WHEREAS, participants wear moccasins on November 15 to school, to work or to wherever their day takes them; and

     WHEREAS, if a person does not wear moccasins, that person can still participate in rock your mocs day by wearing a turquoise awareness ribbon or a roc your mocks tee shirt; and

     WHEREAS, the rock your mocs movement was founded by Jessica "Jaylyn" Atsye of the Pueblo of Laguna, who feels that moccasins identify who she is; and

     WHEREAS, Jaylyn was inspired to set aside a day for Native American solidarity when she looked at her own feet and realized that her footwear connected her to countless Native American and indigenous people; and

     WHEREAS, rock your mocs is an opportunity for people all over the world to make the same small statement about their identity by wearing moccasins on the same day; and

     WHEREAS, rock your mocs is an opportunity for people from many different backgrounds and cultures to share pride in their Native American heritage; and

     WHEREAS, participants post their photos on the internet through social media sites such as facebook, snapchat, instagram and pinterist and by using the hashtag #rockyourmocs to create a record of the event; and

     WHEREAS, while simultaneously creating awareness of national Native American heritage month, rock your mocs has also inspired people in other ways; and

     WHEREAS, people have taken the initiative to organize moccasin-making workshops, Native American powwow round dances, community fun walks and runs in moccasins, and Native American and indigenous culture awareness events, connecting youth and elder events and other community celebrations;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the governor be requested to declare November 15, 2017 "Rock Your Mocs Day" in New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to Jessica "Jaylyn" Atsye, founder of rock your mocs.

- 3 -