The City of Minneapolis has unanimously approved a resolution to recognize “Indigenous Peoples Day” on the second Monday in October, also Columbus Day,” after hearing concerns that hailing Columbus as the discoverer of America is a myth.
“It’s been a long time coming,” civil rights organizer Clyde Bellecourt told the Star Tribune. “For me, it’s been almost 50 years that we’ve been talking about this pirate.”
The resolution is part of the city’s effort “to better reflect the experiences of American Indian people and uplift our country’s Indigenous roots, history and contributions.”
“I see this as a very small piece of the much larger healing that has to happen in our country so that we can be whole again,” said Council Member Cam Gordon.
City clerk Casey Carl says the new holiday will be reflected on city messaging, including the official calendar of the City Council and committee meetings.
The final resolution was scaled back from another version earlier in the week, which stated that the city should rename Columbus Day itself. The final resolution does not rename the holiday, but rather recognizes Indigenous Peoples Day on the same date, the Tribune reported.
Similar measures that rename or replace Columbus Day are already in place in other parts of the U.S., from South Dakota to Berkley and other California cities, NPR reported.
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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