October 12 in the United States might come across as a confusing day. For years, the United States recognized October 12 as Columbus Day, the day to celebrate when Christopher Columbus landed in the Americas (Cuba area) on his quest to find a faster route to India. It used to be celebrated as a day the Americas were discovered, thus the beginning of our land.
However, in recent years, many people, cities, and states have recognized this idea that Columbus “discovered” the Americas and life here “began” is completely untrue. When Christopher Columbus landed in the Caribbean, he almost immediately encountered indigenous people. These were cultures and communities that lived in the area for centuries prior to any discovery by a European. Columbus, thinking he had arrived in the East Indies (India area), named the people Indians. After Columbus landed in the Americas and reported his findings back to Spain (his sending country), trade began between the “New” World (The Americas) and the “Old” World (Europe). Where trade can be a great thing, there were also the negative elements of the introduction of invasive species and communicable diseases the native peoples could not survive. Also very quickly began the oppression and enslavement of the Native peoples in the European hope to “civilize” the local people.
With the recognition of history told by non-Europeans and acknowledgment that Columbus did not discover the Americas, local governments have turned from celebrating Columbus Day to celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Many now choose to celebrate Native American cultures and histories as a way to honor those who were on American soil first.
In North Carolina, we recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day as opposed to Columbus Day. This only became official in 2018 when Governor Roy Cooper proclaimed the declaration to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day on the second Monday of October. He acknowledged that North Carolina European Settlers and their descendants were indebted to partnerships between them and the Native Americans saying, “American Indians, who have inhabited this land since long before their first contact with English settlers, share their knowledge of the land and its resources, and have continued to play a vital role in the development of our local communities, the state of North Carolina and the nation.”
So how do we celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day? Currently, it is by learning more about what Native Americans gave to our land and what Europeans took from them when they colonized the continent. We work to bring more recognition to the people who were here first and advocate for a change in the United States from Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
Want to learn more? Check out these links:
History Vs Christopher Columbus Video
Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples’ Day?
Rethinking How We Celebrate American History
The Native Lands App can show you which Native Peoples once lived on the land where you are now.
