The history of the Americas has been distorted and dismissive of Indigenous Peoples. On the second Monday of October, we denounce the celebration of conquest, colonization and the slave trade- the true legacy of Christopher Columbus. We propose to replace the recognition of Christopher Columbus, a man who played a pivotal role in the worst genocide the world has ever known, and instead, celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day. This is about teaching our children and ourselves to take a stand against racism and discrimination.  

The idea for Indigenous Peoples Day as a federal holiday to replace Columbus Day was first formally proposed in 1977 by a Native American delegation to the United Nations. Major cities have recently proposed and adopted the replacement of Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day, to include: Berkeley, California; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Seattle, Washington; and the State of South Dakota.