Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Celebrated on the second Monday of October, many will take part in remembering and honoring the history and culture of the Indigenous People of America.
In 1977, the United Nations sponsored the International Conference on Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations in the Americas to discuss the possibility of implementing a celebration of indigenous people in opposition to Columbus Day.
In 1992, only about 14 states celebrated the holiday, yet in 1994, it became recognized as a national holiday. Columbus Day also lands on the second Monday of October, which heralded Christopher Columbus as the founder of America.
Many Indigenous people feel that the celebration of Christopher Columbus removes the memory of his crimes and the violence committed against the Indigenous people who had already inhabited the Americas. For this reason, Indigenous Peoples’ Day has been fought for and has been able to replace Columbus Day in certain areas.
Those same 14 states have decided to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Indigenous activist groups have also called for the removal of monuments and statues of Columbus and Confederate Generals. There have already been several statues of Columbus brought down in the aftermath of other social justice movements in 2020.
This has sparked an argument as to whether the statues should remain on display or not. It also raises the question of “who is an American hero, and who is a symbol of hate?” regarding the identity of the American people and who they wish to represent them and their ideals.
This has been a topic of discussion for generations of the Native People of the Americas. They have protested for their rights and recognition in the nation’s history but have long been ignored.
“It is easy to argue that the narrative of U.S. history is painfully one-sided in its telling of the American narrative,” Professor Sarah Shear said.
The discrimination toward Indigenous groups has often been overlooked and continues today. The replacement of Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day would provide a small step towards retribution. In removing symbols of hatred and violence from days of celebration, communities that have been hurt can rebuild and begin to flourish.
To celebrate and appreciate Indigenous Peoples’ Day and their culture, take the time to research, learn, and listen to their stories. The holiday can be celebrated by educating others on indigenous people throughout history, as well as finding out what you can do to support these communities and spreading awareness to end the silencing of Indigenous voices.
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