Recognizing Columbus Day as a holiday provides a false narrative to the American people, a narrative which should be based on the survival of Indigenous people, in spite of centuries of genocide and forced assimilation of Indigenous people. The state of Arizona has one of the largest populations of Indigenous people and whose land is occupied unceded territory. Like their counterparts in other states, Indigenous people in Arizona face one of the highest prison populations per capita, while law enforcement does little to protect or serve the missing and murdered Indigenous women (#mmiw). Along with other people of color, Indigenous people face systemic racism, interpersonal racism, forced colonization, and living in a society that purposely tries to erase meaningful acts of Indigeneity.

By replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day, the state of Arizona will acknowledge what Christopher Columbus means to Indigenous people. Columbus’ legacy is slavery, disease, murder and rape of Indigenous people, all of which combined to forever erase some Indigenous tribes along the east coast of America. Those of us who are here today because our ancestors survived Columbus know that Columbus did not discover America. It is time that the state of Arizona acknowledges Indigenous people of Arizona in a meaningful and respectful way, rather than merely using us as lures for tourists. There are 22 sovereign Indigenous tribes in Arizona, which is named after an O’odham phrase meaning “little spring”.  As long as Arizona observes Columbus Day, there is no respect for Indigenous people of those 22 tribes in Arizona.