In 1992, Berkeley, California became the first U.S. city to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day instead of Columbus Day. Since then, a handful of states and cities have changed the holiday as well. One month ago, New Mexico’s governor signed legislation that officially changed the holiday. In Massachusetts, Cambridge, Amherst, and Northampton have switched to Indigenous Peoples’ Day. At Marblehead’s town meeting on May 6th, there was a vote on whether or not to make the change to Indigenous Peoples’ Day. At the time of the writing of this article, the result of the meeting was not known. This movement is officially Article 19, and if it was passed, it will not change the day the holiday is celebrated nor its status as a federal holiday.
It is important to know not just what the cause is, but the reason that it is so important. Columbus Day honors Christopher Columbus, an Italian explorer, who never came to the U.S. He is credited with discovering the Americas, despite the fact that both North and South America were already inhabited and had been visited by others European explorers before he arrived there. Columbus’ journey to America led to the colonization and genocide of Native Americans.
Native Americans have made major contributions to our society throughout history. I remember learning about how Native Americans taught the Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock to grow food multiple times throughout elementary school. It is even portrayed in popular television programs such as the Charlie Brown special played at Thanksgiving. Massachusetts’ name originates from the Massachuset tribe, and there is a street in Marblehead named after Nanepashemet, the chief of a Native American tribe and a resident of the Neck for one part of his life. Still, Native Americans have been persecuted all throughout U.S. history.
The local committee that has been leading this effort can be found on Instagram and Facebook @indigenouspeoplesdayMHD. They also have a website where you can learn more about what inspired them to start this initiative. Their contact information is also located on the following page: www.indigenouspeoplesdayma.org/marblehead/. The meeting has already passed, but no matter what the result was, you should educate any friends and family about this issue to participate in the movement to change Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day!