Understanding Indigenous Peoples' Day | VOA News

Summary

In recent years, more U.S. states and cities have replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous People's Day to acknowledge the history of Native Americans. While Columbus Day became a federal holiday in 1934 to honor Italian-American heritage, it is seen by many indigenous groups as a reminder of genocide and colonialism. The origins of Indigenous People's Day trace back to a 1977 conference refuting the idea that Columbus 'discovered' the Americas. Though President Biden recognized the holiday in 2021, it is not yet a federal holiday. Similar holidays exist worldwide, and the UN celebrates Indigenous People's Day annually on August 9th.

Takeaways

• 🌍 States, counties, and cities across the U.S. are increasingly recognizing Indigenous Peoples' Day in place of Columbus Day.
• 🇺🇸 Both Indigenous Peoples' Day and Columbus Day are celebrated on the second Monday in October.
• 👤 In 2021, President Joe Biden became the first U.S. president to formally recognize Indigenous Peoples' Day.
• 🏛️ A bill is pending in Congress to make Indigenous Peoples' Day an official federal holiday.
• 📅 Columbus Day became a federal holiday in 1934, partly to honor Italian-American heritage during a time of persecution.
• ⛓️ Many Indigenous peoples view Columbus Day as an affront, given its association with centuries of genocide and forced assimilation.
• 🛑 The origins of Indigenous Peoples' Day trace back to a 1977 conference that rejected the doctrine of discovery, which claimed Columbus 'discovered' the Americas.
• 🚢 Christopher Columbus, born in Italy, landed in the Caribbean in 1492 but never set foot in what is now the contiguous United States.
• 📉 The arrival of Columbus and colonization led to a sharp decline in the Indigenous population, from around 60-100 million to 6 million in just over a century.
• 🌏 Many countries, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Brazil, have holidays that honor Indigenous peoples, along with the UN’s International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples on August 9.

Q & A

What is Indigenous People's Day, and when is it celebrated?

Indigenous People's Day is a holiday that recognizes and honors the history and culture of Indigenous peoples in the Americas. It is celebrated on the second Monday in October.

Which U.S. President was the first to formally recognize Indigenous People's Day?

President Joe Biden was the first U.S. President to formally recognize Indigenous People's Day.

Is Indigenous People's Day an official federal holiday in the United States?

No, Indigenous People's Day is not yet an official federal holiday in the United States, but a bill is pending in Congress to make it one.

When was Columbus Day made a federal holiday, and what was its original purpose?

Columbus Day was made a federal holiday in 1934. It originally aimed to honor Italian-American heritage during a time of persecution of Italian immigrants.

Why do many Indigenous peoples find Columbus Day offensive?

Many Indigenous peoples find Columbus Day offensive because it represents centuries of genocide, forced assimilation, and discrimination against them.

What was one key recommendation from the 1977 First International NGO Conference on discrimination against Indigenous populations?

One key recommendation from the conference was a refutation of the doctrine of discovery, which claimed that Christopher Columbus discovered the Americas and led to the declaration that Spain owned all the Western Hemisphere.

Did Christopher Columbus ever set foot on the land now known as the contiguous United States?

No, Christopher Columbus never set foot on the land now known as the contiguous United States; his ship landed in the Caribbean in 1492.

What impact did Columbus and his men have on the native people they encountered?

Columbus and his men enslaved, raped, and tortured the native people they encountered, bringing with them the institutions of colonialism.

What was the estimated population decline of Indigenous peoples in the Americas after Columbus's arrival?

The Indigenous population in the Americas declined from more than 60 million to about 6 million in a little more than 100 years after Columbus's arrival.

What is one environmental impact that researchers have linked to the population decline of Indigenous peoples?

Researchers have linked the population decline of Indigenous peoples to a decrease in greenhouse gases, which led to a drop in the planet's temperature by 0.15 degrees Celsius.

What is the primary motivation for replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous People's Day?

The primary motivation for replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous People's Day is to challenge the doctrine of discovery and provide a more complete and accurate representation of U.S. history.

Have any U.S. Presidents ever made an explicit apology for the treatment of Indigenous peoples?

No, no U.S. President has ever made an explicit apology for the treatment of Indigenous peoples.

Which other countries have holidays to honor Indigenous peoples?

Countries such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Venezuela, Norway, Bolivia, and Brazil have holidays to honor Indigenous peoples.

When is the UN International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples celebrated?

The UN International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples is celebrated on August 9th each year.