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Today is Indigenous Peoples’ Day!
The purpose of Indigenous People’s Day is for educators to rethink the story of Christopher Columbus’s arrival in North America. Schools have been programmed to teach the glorified story of the Niña, Pinta, and Santa Maria finding the North American continent. But...not all schools shed light on Indigenous perspectives.
Nizhoni McDonough: In general, we were just taught about Native American history up to Columbus and then anything after that. Then we weren’t taught anything about Native Americans.
That was Nizhoni McDonough, a student who is a member of the Navajo Nation on why people lack education on Indigenous Peoples.
Indigenous Peoples’ Day first became recognized in 1977 by South Dakota but gained momentum after President Biden’s proclamation of the holiday in 2021. Proclamations are usually issued by the President to recognize and support ceremonial events. Past proclamations of Indigenous Peoples’ Day have focused on highlighting recent policy measures concerning Indigenous People’s populations.
According to the Pew Research Center today, 16 states and the District of Columbia recognize some version of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, although it is not an official holiday enshrined in law in all of these states.
There are 16 states that observe the second Monday in October as a public holiday known exclusively as Columbus Day.
Lawmakers from the House and Senate are still pushing to reintroduce a bill that would make Indigenous Peoples’ Day a federally recognized national holiday. The bill was reintroduced in Congress this year.
In the meantime, anyone can still take part in celebrating the holiday.
McDonough talked about ways people can take part in recognizing Indigenous People’s Day.
Nizhoni McDonough: I think as a person who isn’t native or who wants to support our community it’s definitely about bringing awareness to issues happening to Native American people today. Take a look at native issues, donate, spread awareness. If you can do any of that, it’s really important.
For students like McDonough, Indigenous Peoples’ Day is continuous and being recognized by Native Americans every day.
Nizhoni McDonough: To other people, it is a day to recognize Native Americans, but our community sees it as every day is Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
For Annenberg Media, I’m Vishu Reddy