Indigenous People’s Day or Columbus Day?

Oct. 10, is marked the day of National Indigenous People’s Day, although the majority of society knows it as Columbus Day. Many recognize this holiday as the day of Columbus’ arrival in the Americas. There has been much controversy on whether this national holiday should be regarded as Indigenous Peoples day or Columbus day.

Columbus Day is originally a national holiday in the United States (U.S.) in which Christopher Columbus had colonized the Americas on October 12, 1492. This is a holiday where many Americans celebrate and honor Columbus and his achievements in creating the “New World”—a name used for the Western Hemisphere, specifically referring to the Americas when it was first colonized. The name Christopher Columbus has created a controversy whether he himself is a hero or a villain in history. 

Columbus was an Italian explorer who went on many voyages. History, a network originally based on history and social documentaries, explains how Columbus wanted to find a direct sea route west from Europe to Asia, but instead of finding that water route, he accidentally found the Americas. His original plan was to find an easy route to India, China, Japan and other Spice Islands so he could get silk and spices. 

Throughout Columbus’ voyages, he encountered Indigenous people, whom he called “obstacles.” ”Why Columbus Day Court explains that throughout Columbus’ voyage, he had acts of violence such as brutally beating the Indigenous and exploiting their work for profit. 

Not only has this happened, but Native Americans were already living where Columbus had “founded,” stripping them off their own homes. Columbus had enslaved the Indigenous people and forced native people to convert to Christianity. This ultimately led to the hardest and most painful points in history. 

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Indigenous Peoples Day is a day to honor the Native Americans and to recognize their history and culture.

— Anissa Barajas

As early as the 1970s, many around the world have fought and protested against Columbus who had oppressed the Native Americans. Dylan Baca , a 19-year-old Arizonan who was instrumental in helping broker the first proclamation said how he felt about Columbus Day. “Should we recognize a man whose laborers killed children, killed women and decimated the Native American population here? I don’t think that is something that we want to be honored,” Baca stated.

For those of Native descent, it felt like an insult as people celebrated the day of the person who were robbed, beat and enslaved them. Columbus Day has been overshadowed by Indigenous Peoples Day, but it was not until recently that U.S. President Joe Biden in 2021 signed the first presidential proclamation of Indigenous Peoples Day. Biden states that this was to honor, “our diverse history and the Indigenous peoples who contribute to shaping this nation,” according to the National Geographic Society.

Indigenous Peoples Day is a day to honor the Native Americans and to recognize their history and culture. Through recent years people in the nation have stopped celebrating Columbus Day completely and/or have replaced it with Indigenous Peoples Day. 

Having Indigenous Peoples Day as a national holiday is not just to honor the Native Americans, but to also spread awareness and educate people all around the world, ranging from young children to adults, about the history of the Native Americans.

Throughout a high school’s educational career, from elementary to middle school, Christopher Columbus was depicted as an honorable person. However, it was not until recently when many people realized the true history of what had occurred: the attack on native lives. Even though Christopher Columbus had changed and shaped the “New World”, it is important to recognize Columbus had destroyed many indigenous peoples lives.