By Samantha Carmona, Oct. 17, 2023
Another Columbus Day has passed for Americans, marking another year anniversary for the discovery of the New World. However, what is a day for celebration for most citizens is a grim reminder of tragic history for Native Americans. A movement to reclaim Columbus Day as Indigenous Peoples’ has risen in America, to mixed reactions from the public.
America first observed Columbus Day in 1892 on the voyage’s 400th anniversary in a proclamation by President Benjamin Harrison. “Columbus stood in his age as the pioneer of progress and enlightenment,” Harrison said. Decades later, Americans would still be recognizing and expanding this holiday, adding parades and festivities to the mix.
The day has been a federal holiday since 1937, and Columbus himself is immortalized through over 130 statues, making him the third most popular figure recognized in statue form in America.
However, This has led to a rise in support for transforming Columbus Day into Indigenous Peoples’ Day, reflecting a sentiment that has remained divided among the American population.
Indigenous Peoples’ Day rose as a counter to Columbus Day, which many Native activists have argued is a celebration of genocide and fails to recognize Columbus’ less commendable deeds, including enslavement, torture, sexual abuse and erasing Native culture by enforcing conversion to Christianity.
Madi Garcia, assistant coordinator for the Native American Student Center at CPP, shared her thoughts on the matter.
“It’s celebrating something that is ultimately colonization,” Garcia said. To her, recognizing Columbus Day promotes Eurocentric ideologies, while Indigenous Peoples’ Day puts focus on Native resilience. “People need to educate themselves and open up to different stories of history.”
This new holiday would shift the focus from the man who enacted historic violence to recognizing the strengths and feats of the people who were subjected to it. The first Indigenous People’s Day was initially conceived by a community in Berkeley, California, in 1992, where it was celebrated as “Day of Solidarity with Indigenous People.”
Over two decades later, President Joe Biden was the first American president to recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day in 2021. In his statement, Biden described the country’s values of equality and opportunity as failing to live up to its potential for Native American citizens: “Today, we recognize Indigenous peoples’ resilience and strength as well as the immeasurable positive impact that they have made on every aspect of American society.”
The statement came as a surprising but positive step forward for Indigenous people advocating for the holiday’s recognition. It also contrasted with former President Donald Trump’s statement on the issue, where he described how “extremists seek to replace discussion of his (Columbus’) vast contributions with talk of failings, his discoveries with atrocities and his achievements with transgressions.”
However, conservative Americans have also echoed former President Trump’s words and describe the enactment of Indigenous Peoples’ Day as changing history. A recent op-ed published in the Federalist described Columbus’ actions as justified defense against the “ruthless tribes” he encountered. “Columbus Day commemorates character, embodies freedom, and celebrates the uniqueness that is America,” wrote author Scott Powell.
But efforts toward recognizing Indigenous Peoples’ Day over Columbus Day still continue today. CPP’s Native American Student Center recognized Indigenous Peoples’ Day Monday, Oct. 9.
CPP English literary studies student Serena Ruiz attended the NASC’s Indigenous Peoples’ Day activities on campus. She said she supported the celebration of Indigenous people over recognizing Columbus. “There is a lot of misinformation about him,” Ruiz said. “He was genocidal … They are taught a sanitized version of history.”
CPP still officially denotes the holiday as Columbus Day on its Academic Calendar, though it notes that Los Angeles County recognizes it as Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
Nellie Rose, a social justice leader for Native Students on campus, also described observance of Indigenous People’s Day as a step forward and a way to acknowledge Native land. “It makes us feel seen and heard,” Rose said.
When asked about criticism to Indigenous People’s Day, Rose said it stems from a lack of understanding and recognition of Native struggles. “It takes a crazy person to not feel bad.”
Feature image courtesy of Matias Luge
