The movement to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples' Day
What began as a 1977 diplomatic discussion in Switzerland has transformed into a significant shift in American civic life. Across many US cities and states, a holiday once dedicated to an Italian explorer is being reimagined to honor the enduring cultures and histories of Native American peoples.
The origins of Indigenous Peoples' Day are rooted in international advocacy. During a 1977 United Nations-sponsored conference in Geneva, Switzerland, delegates first proposed replacing Columbus Day with a celebration of Indigenous populations. This momentum grew in July 1990 at a conference in Quito, Ecuador, where representatives pledged to use the 500th anniversary of Columbus's voyages in 1992 to promote continental unity and liberation.
The movement gained significant local traction in California. In 1992, following protests against the 'Quincentennial Jubilee' in the San Francisco Bay Area, the city of Berkeley officially renamed Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples' Day. This act was intended to draw attention to the historical trauma caused by colonization, including warfare, disease, and forced assimilation. Since then, other cities like Richmond, Santa and Sebastopol have followed suit, and the city of Newton, Massachusetts, voted to change its holiday in 2020.
While the holiday is not a federal US holiday, it has reached the highest levels of government. In 2021, President Joe Biden issued the first presidential proclamation formally commemorating the day, a practice continued through 2024. However, the shift remains a point of intense debate. Some critics, including former President Donald Trump, have characterized the change as an attempt to erase history, while some Italian-American groups view the renaming as an attack on their heritage. Conversely, groups like Italian Americans for Indigenous Peoples Day support the transition, viewing it as a way to honor Indigenous history without disparaging Italian identity.
Source: Indigenous Peoples' Day (United States)
