Columbus against the Indians: Americans themselves do not understand now that they celebrate October 11

Goodbye Columbus? What Indigenous Peoples Day means and what we actually celebrate on October 11th, explained the publication NPR.

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Protesters took part in an Indigenous Day rally held in Boston on October 10, 2020 as part of a demonstration to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Day. Boston made this change last week.

This year, for the first time, the President of the United States officially recognized Indigenous Peoples Day.

On Friday, President Biden issued a proclamation to celebrate October 11 as a day in honor of Native Americans, their resilience and their contribution to American society throughout history despite assimilation, discrimination and genocide against them for generations. The move shifts the focus from Columbus Day, a federal holiday of Christopher Columbus that coincides with Indigenous Peoples Day this year.

Dylan Baka, a 19-year-old Arizona resident who was instrumental in promoting the new holiday, is shocked by the seriousness of Biden's actions.

“I still don’t think I’ve fully grasped what that means,” he said. “The president did a serious thing that will mean a lot to so many people.”

Four years ago, the Indigenous leader, along with Arizona Senator Jamecita Peshlakai, founded the Indigenous Peoples Initiative with a similar mission: to tell a more positive and accurate Native American story by replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous Day.

What is Indigenous Peoples Day

Indigenous People's Day supporters say the recognition is helping to rectify the whitewashed American history that has glorified Europeans such as the Italian explorer Christopher Columbus, who perpetrated violence against indigenous communities.

Native Americans have long criticized the inaccuracies and harmful narratives of Columbus's legacy, which they attribute to him for "discovering" America when Native peoples were first there.

“It’s hard to comprehend all the accomplishments of individuals and the price they paid for it,” said Mandy Van Heuvelen, coordinator, translator, and cultural specialist at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian.

According to Van Heuvelen, a Sioux tribe member from South Dakota, there are no set rules on how to value the day. It's all about reflection, recognition, celebration and education.

“It can be a day to reflect on our history in the United States, the role that Indigenous people have played in it, the impact that history has had on Indigenous people and communities, and a day to gain some insight into the diversity of Indigenous peoples,” she said .

According to NPR, this idea was first proposed by indigenous peoples at a 1977 United Nations conference on combating discrimination against indigenous people. But South Dakota became the first state to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Day in 1989, officially celebrating it the following year.

The Biden proclamation marks the official adoption of the day, which is recognized by an increasing number of states and cities. Last week, Boston joined Arizona, Oregon, Texas, Louisiana, Washington, D.C. and several other states in dedicating the second Monday in October to Indigenous People's Day. Native Americans bore the brunt of the work to make this happen.

Many state and local governments have gone even further. More than a dozen states and more than 100 cities celebrate this day, with many of them abandoning the holiday in honor of Columbus altogether, replacing it with Indigenous Peoples' Day.

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“What may seem like a simple name change to some can lead to real social progress for Native Americans,” Van Heuvelen said. “What these changes do, one step at a time, is provide an opportunity for Indigenous people in the United States to be seen.” Until Indigenous peoples are present or fully visible in our society and in everyday life, we will not be able to make these big changes. As long as Indigenous people remain invisible, it's much easier for people to ignore these real issues and these real concerns within these communities.”

What about Columbus Day

Columbus Day remains a federal holiday that gives federal government employees a day off.

This day was first founded as a way to appreciate the abuse of Italian Americans, and Congress eventually declared it a federal holiday in 1934.

“Italian-American culture is important, and I think there are other times and places to acknowledge that. But I think it's also important to acknowledge the history of Columbus Day itself,” Dylan Baca said. “Should we acknowledge a man whose work killed children, killed women, and exterminated the Native American population here?” I don't think we want these events to be celebrated."

Oct. 11 marks Oregon's first recognition of Indigenous Peoples' Day instead of Columbus Day after its Legislature passed a resolution introduced by Indigenous legislators. Rep. Tawna Sanchez, one of those lawmakers, says the recognition day movement is the perfect time for political recognition.

“I don’t know if we’ll ever get to a place where people get their land back or get recognition for who they are to the extent that they should. But the fact that people are paying attention at this very moment is important because we will have a better opportunity to educate people and help them understand why we are where we are right now,” she said.

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“History is always written by the winner,” Sanchez said. “How can we actually tell the truth about what happened and where we are stuck at this very moment?” How can we move forward?

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