Columbus Day vs. Indigenous Peoples’ Day: A Tale of Two Narratives

Columbus Day is a significant holiday in the United States, marking the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas. We celebrate it on the second Monday of October every year. Yet, in recent times, there has been a surging movement. Moreover, it is advocating for the substitution of the same with Indigenous Peoples’ Day. This movement aims to challenge the traditional narrative surrounding Columbus Day. Instead of celebrating Columbus’s arrival, it seeks to highlight something else entirely. Furthermore, the debate surrounding Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day is complex and multifaceted, with strong arguments on both sides. In this article, we will explore the two narratives surrounding these holidays and examine their contemporary relevance.

Historical Background

In 1492, Christopher Columbus embarked on a voyage across the Atlantic Ocean from Spain. It was undertaken with three ships: the Niña, Pinta, and Santa Maria. Columbus’s quest was to discover a direct water route from Europe to Asia, a mission he did not accomplish. Instead, he serendipitously encountered the Americas. This event signaled the onset of centuries of exploration and colonization in North and South America.

Columbus Day was first celebrated in 1792 in New York City. It was celebrated to commemorate the 300th anniversary of Columbus’s arrival in the Americas. In 1937, the government established Columbus Day as a federal holiday. Italian-Americans celebrate Columbus Day as a way to honor their heritage and culture, recognizing Columbus’s Italian background. However, in recent years, there has been growing criticism of the same. This is due to Columbus’s treatment of Indigenous peoples and his role in colonization. This has led to calls for replacing this day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

Columbus Day Today

The United States still marks Columbus Day as a federal holiday, observed on the second Monday of October each year. However, Columbus Day doesn’t hold the status of a major holiday in the United States. Consequently, most businesses continue to operate on Columbus Day.

In recent years, there has been a growing movement to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day. As of 2023, 15 states and the District of Columbia have replaced this Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day. These states include Alaska, California, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico and North Carolina. As well as Oregon, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

The movement to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day has gained momentum in recent years as people have become more aware of the atrocities committed against Indigenous peoples by Columbus and other European explorers. The goal of Indigenous Peoples’ Day is to celebrate the history and culture of Indigenous peoples and to recognize their contributions to society.

Controversies and Debates

The celebration of Columbus Day has been a topic of controversy and debate for many years. Native American communities and activists have raised concerns about the celebration of this Day, arguing that it glorifies a man who played a significant role in the colonization and genocide of Indigenous peoples.

The Rise of Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Lately, there has been an increasing push to substitute Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day. The movement seeks to shift the focus away from Columbus’s arrival and instead highlights the history, cultures, and contributions of Indigenous peoples who had been living in the Americas long before Columbus arrived. The movement has gained momentum in recent years, with more and more cities and states replacing the Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

The shift to Indigenous Peoples’ Day is significant because it recognizes the history and contributions of Indigenous peoples, who have long been marginalized and oppressed in the United States. It also acknowledges the atrocities committed against Indigenous peoples by Columbus and other European explorers. 

Significance of the Shift

The movement to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day has gained momentum in recent years as people have become more aware of the atrocities committed against Indigenous peoples by Columbus and other European explorers. The arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492 has been celebrated in the United States since 1792. However, in recent years, there has been growing criticism of this Day due to Columbus’s treatment of Indigenous peoples and his role in colonization. This has led to calls for replacing the Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

Activists have symbolically renamed this Day to Indigenous Peoples’ Day as a protest against the historical conquest of North America by Europeans. In an act of recognition and resistance, this Day has been transformed into Indigenous Peoples’ Day, highlighting the plight of native populations displaced and decimated by Columbus and other European explorers. The first city to replace the Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day was Berkeley, Calif., in 1992. Since then, more than 130 cities and at least 21 states have followed suit.

Indigenous Peoples’ Day surges like a rising tide, actively reclaiming the narrative and washing away the erasure of the past. It also acknowledges the atrocities committed against Indigenous peoples by Columbus and other European explorers. 

What is Columbus Day, and why is it celebrated?

Columbus Day, a federal holiday in the United States, marks the momentous landing of Christopher Columbus in the Americas on October 12, 1492. In 1792, New York City kicked off the tradition of honoring Columbus’s arrival with a grand 300th-anniversary celebration, paving the way for its later recognition as a federal holiday.

Traditionally, this Day served as a tribute to Italian-American heritage and the legacy of the Italian explorer. However, in recent times, criticism has grown regarding Columbus’s treatment of Indigenous peoples and his role in colonization. Consequently, there is a burgeoning movement advocating for the replacement of the same with Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

The debate between Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day underscores the importance of fostering a supportive community that acknowledges the diverse experiences of its members. This is a sentiment echoed in the observance of World Mental Health Day, where the focus is on creating a society that prioritizes mental health and well-being for all.

Conclusion

Columbus Day, celebrated in the United States since 1792 to mark Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the Americas, faces increasing criticism due to his treatment of Indigenous peoples and involvement in colonization. This has spurred calls for replacing this with Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

The debate is complex, with arguments on both sides. While some emphasize its significance in Italian-American heritage, others contend it glorifies a figure involved in colonization and Indigenous oppression.

As of 2023, 15 states and the District of Columbia have adopted Indigenous Peoples’ Day. This shift acknowledges the historical injustices against Indigenous peoples, which have long been overdue. It signifies a step towards rectifying these wrongs and pursuing a more just and equitable society. Expect more states and cities to follow suit in the future.