Most states, cities and counties still call today Columbus Day. But the movement to celebrate the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples Day is growing.
South Dakota was the first state to do away with the Columbus-related designation in 1990, replacing it with Native American Day. Seattle changed in 2014. Last year 19 municipalities and the state of Alaska embraced the new holiday. This year, at least 17 municipalities plus the state of Vermont voted to ditch Columbus day in favor of a day that celebrates the nation’s first people.
Denver, Co. made the change on October 3. The city council of Boulder, CO, voted in August. Phoenix, AZ, Santa Fe and Albuquerque, NM, also recently switched.
A few years ago, the California state legislature tried to pass a bill to rename today, however it didn’t pass. Yet, nationally, the movement is expanding, not slowing down.
So, Happy Indigenous Peoples’ Day everyone.
And happy day after John Lennon’s birthday, while we’re at it.
NOTE: The two videos above are not from an October celebration but rather from North American Indian Days, the fabulous annual powwow held the second weekend of July in Browning, MT. The first video features the Chicken Dancers’ competition. The second is the performance of one group, known as the Bull Horn drummers, in the drumming competition.
HAPPY “FESTIVUS” DAY!
Finally America (and making it great again) is waking up with the truth.
Having America celebrate Columbus Day is as bad as having Clinton’s Back In the White House day!
October 9 is John Lennon’s birthdate!