Indigenous People's Day: A New Holiday for a New Era

At the United Nations Conference on Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations in the Americas (1977), Indigenous peoples' rights activists proposed that we replace "Columbus Day" with a celebration that prioritizes solidarity with American Indians who have long-suffered the impact of Columbus’ imperialistic voyages. They argued that, in doing so, we confront the painful legacy of colonization, decolonizing our historical memories through the reframing of national holidays.

Columbus Day has been recognized as a national holiday since 1937. The celebration of Christopher Columbus' 1492 voyage to the Americas was intended to acknowledge not only the explorer but also the contributions of Italian-Americans, who faced widespread discrimination at the time. For Italian-American communities, Columbus became a symbol of pride.

However, the holiday promotes a Eurocentric history, framing Columbus' arrival as a “discovery” and reinforcing the narrative of European exploration as a noble, civilizing force, while completely sidelining the rich histories of the Indigenous peoples who had lived here for millennia and the violence Europeans inflicted on their communities.

Indigenous American tribes lived here with thriving cultures, advanced agricultural systems, and deep spiritual connections to the land. Columbus' arrival did not mark the beginning of American history; it marked the beginning of a genocide.

The continued celebration of Columbus as a hero glosses over the decimation of Indigenous populations through violence and disease, establishment of the transatlantic slave trade, and theft of Indigenous lands. In upholding Columbus Day, we contribute to the marginalization and dehumanization of Indigenous peoples today. Despite arguments suggesting that Columbus Day is vital for Italian-American pride, recognizing him as a great explorer, we are validating stereotypes about Native peoples as "savages" who needed to be "civilized."

Thus, the movement for the adoption of “Indigenous People's Day” as a replacement for Columbus Day is ever expanding, ranging from universities who adopt the new holiday into their programming to White House Proclamations recognizing its significance to becoming an official holiday in Canada. Recognizing Indigenous People's Day offers us a chance to celebrate the histories, cultures, and contributions of Indigenous peoples, whose narratives have long been suppressed. This shift is more than just symbolic; it represents a broader commitment to decolonizing public consciousness and confronting the painful truths of our society.

Decolonizing national holidays is just one part of a larger process of promoting justice and equity in this country. By shifting from Columbus Day to Indigenous People's Day, we take an important step toward acknowledging historical wrongs and moving towards a more inclusive and truthful representation of the past.