How did Indigenous Peoples’ Day develop as an alternative to Columbus Day?

Indigenous Peoples’ Day emerged as a response to growing criticism of Columbus Day, which commemorates Christopher Columbus’s 1492 arrival in the Americas. While Columbus Day was historically promoted to honor Italian American heritage, many activists and supporters have increasingly protested the holiday for ignoring the perspectives of Indigenous peoples and celebrating a legacy defined by conquest, enslavement, and the violent displacement of Native populations.1234

The movement to replace the holiday gained formal momentum in 1977 at a United Nations conference on discrimination against Indigenous populations. Following this, South Dakota became the first state to replace Columbus Day with a celebration of Native Americans in 1990, and Berkeley, California, became the first city to adopt Indigenous Peoples’ Day in 1992.31

The holiday serves to honor the resilience, diversity, and contributions of Indigenous communities while reflecting on the historical mistreatment and ongoing struggle for sovereignty. In 2021, Joe Biden became the first U.S. president to officially recognize the day.15