U.S. States Divided Between Celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day and Columbus Day

Why It Matters

The debate surrounding the holiday is rooted in a complex history. For many, Indigenous Peoples’ Day represents a long-overdue recognition of Native American communities and their historical experiences. However, others argue that replacing Columbus Day undermines the significance of Italian American heritage and erases a key part of their cultural identity.

For decades, the U.S. has celebrated Christopher Columbus and his 1492 voyage. In recent years, however, Columbus’ legacy has come under fire due to the violence, displacement, and lasting impacts his arrival had on Indigenous peoples.

Historical Background

Columbus Day was established as a federal holiday in 1937 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt, influenced by the Knights of Columbus, sought to honor Columbus and celebrate Italian American contributions to the country.

In 2021, President Joe Biden made a historic proclamation recognizing Indigenous Peoples’ Day, acknowledging Native American contributions and the centuries of advocacy behind the movement. This recognition followed more than 30 years of activism by Indigenous communities calling for change.

The Current Divide

Despite this progress, more than half of U.S. states still do not officially recognize either Indigenous Peoples’ Day or Columbus Day. This ongoing divide reflects broader tensions over the nation’s historical narrative and identity. In some states, compromises have been reached through proclamations, which often leave both Indigenous advocates and Columbus Day supporters unsatisfied.

Context

For many years, Native scholars and legal experts have challenged the romanticized narrative of U.S. expansion, pointing out the harsh realities of violence and displacement experienced by Indigenous communities.

Historian Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz argues that framing 1492 as the beginning of America’s colonial history obscures deeper issues, such as genocide, settler colonialism, white supremacy, and exclusion. She believes holidays like Indigenous Peoples’ Day should bring these truths to the forefront.

Historical Context

During the summer of 2020, amid the Black Lives Matter protests, over 30 statues of Columbus were torn down, along with numerous Confederate monuments. This reflected a broader reassessment of symbols tied to colonization, racism, and systemic oppression.

Perspectives

Gabriel Galanda, an Indigenous rights attorney and a member of the Round Valley Indian Tribes, views Indigenous Peoples’ Day as largely symbolic.

“It offers a moment for Americans to reflect on our existence, but it doesn’t address the legal and civil rights issues that plague our communities,” Galanda said.

He criticized the holiday’s observance, pointing out that land acknowledgments and similar proclamations, while recognizing Indigenous peoples as the original inhabitants, do little to address the systemic challenges they still face today.

Galanda’s concerns are also tied to the centennial of the Indian Citizenship Act, which granted Native Americans U.S. citizenship in 1924. However, he emphasized that this act did not fully guarantee their constitutional rights, and many issues from that period persist today.

He highlighted his ongoing 12-year fight against the practice of disenrollment within Indigenous communities. Disenrollment has stripped more than 10,000 Native Americans of their tribal status, cutting them off from their homelands and vital social safety nets.

“Without protections or recourse, many of those evicted from tribal lands are left vulnerable to violence and trafficking,” Galanda said.

Political Response

Galanda also noted that neither major political party has adequately addressed the core issues facing Native Americans. While he acknowledged some progress under President Biden, such as policies supporting tribal sovereignty and infrastructure investment, he remained skeptical of the political will to bring about substantial change.

Jaidan Idarraga, a spokesperson for Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign, noted that their team has implemented “the largest-ever national Tribal organizing program,” communicating directly with Native communities in key states. Meanwhile, the Trump campaign did not provide details on plans to support Native American rights.

The Bottom Line

While Galanda expressed hope for meaningful change, he cautioned that without extending civil rights protections to Indigenous people, symbolic gestures like holiday observances and proclamations would remain insufficient.

“My hope, despite my cynicism, is that these dynamics can shift… but every day I see more citizens and less hope, given the forces at play,” he concluded.