As your constituent, I write to you today to request your support for the Indigenous Peoples’ Day Act, re-introduced in Congress in October of 2023.
Please take an active role in backing this important legislation, which would replace Columbus Day as a federal holiday with Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Continuing to celebrate Christopher Columbus constantly reinforces a legacy of pain for the original peoples of the Americas. It pushes a false narrative about our national history that applauds violence and celebrates Native erasure.
Commemorating Indigenous Peoples’ Day, on the other hand, will be a significant symbolic step toward much-needed truth and reconciliation. Changing the holiday would provide recognition and a valuable space for Native communities to reclaim the dignity and respect they deserve.
Today, 29 states and Washington D.C. no longer officially observe Columbus Day, and 23 states and Washington D.C. have recognized Indigenous Peoples’ Day or an equivalent. At least 200 cities across this country have also adopted Indigenous Peoples’ Day and repudiated Columbus Day.
When we commemorate Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we reckon in an honest way with our past — which can empower our nation to heal and move forward in a more united way. Native peoples are still here, still part of America, and Indigenous history must be properly recognized as a significant part of our shared national history.
We rely on our elected officials to represent all of our people and lead this country in a direction of truth, justice, and equality for all. Please show you are a champion for all people by supporting the Indigenous Peoples’ Day Act.
