PRYOR, Oklahoma ~ Today is a holiday that goes by different names depending on who you ask. Some people call it Columbus Day, while others know it as Indigenous Peoples’ Day. But how did this day start, and why do people call it different things?
The History of Columbus Day
Columbus Day has been a national holiday in the United States since 1937. It was created to honor Christopher Columbus, the explorer who landed in the Americas on October 12, 1492. For many years, this day was seen as a way to celebrate Columbus’s achievements and his role in connecting Europe with the Americas.
The idea of Columbus Day began even earlier, though. In the late 1800s, Italian-American communities started celebrating the day to honor their heritage and Columbus’s Italian roots. Italian immigrants at the time were facing discrimination, so having a holiday that celebrated one of their own helped them feel pride in their culture. By 1937, Columbus Day became an official national holiday.
Changing Views on Columbus Day
Over time, some people began to look at Columbus Day differently. While many saw it as a celebration of exploration, others pointed out that Columbus’s arrival led to serious problems for Indigenous peoples who already lived in the Americas. Colonization brought violence, disease, and the loss of land for Native American tribes, and for some, this made it harder to view Columbus’s journey as purely positive.
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In 1977, Indigenous groups suggested that the holiday be replaced with Indigenous Peoples’ Day to recognize the cultures and history of Native Americans. This idea was slowly adopted by different states and cities. South Dakota became the first state to officially celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day in 1990. Since then, other states and many cities have also made the change.
Why the Day Has Two Names
Today, both Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day are observed in different places across the U.S. People who celebrate Columbus Day often say that it’s a way to honor the spirit of exploration and the contributions of Italian-Americans. For them, it’s a chance to recognize the role Columbus played in shaping world history.
Meanwhile, those who support Indigenous Peoples’ Day see it as a time to reflect on the history and contributions of Native American communities. It’s a day to remember the cultures that existed long before Columbus arrived and the challenges Indigenous people faced as a result of colonization.
A Holiday That’s Changing
As more places shift toward celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day, the way this holiday is recognized continues to evolve. Some places have decided to celebrate both days at once, while others have made a full switch to Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Events and educational programs are held to teach people more about Native American history, while others still choose to honor Columbus’s journey…