Indigenous Peoples‘ Day is celebrated on the second Monday in October, and with that comes disinformation about the people who first inhabited North America.
Many students know the phrase, “In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue.” However, Columbus was not the first foreign explorer to reach the Americas, nor did he or his predecessors “discover” the continent, as Indigenous Peoples had inhabited the Western Hemisphere for tens of thousands of years. The arrival of Europeans initiated a period of catastrophic consequences for Native populations, including profound loss of life, cultural disruption, and the dispossession of vast amounts of land. In the 130 years following initial contact, it is estimated that 95% of the Indigenous population was decimated.
Upon contact, the Indigenous People were subjected to enslavement and the extraction of their resources by explorers who soon became settlers. European colonization—initiated by the Portuguese, Spanish, French, Dutch, and English—expanded throughout the Americas, further encroaching on the lives and territories of Native Peoples. Colonization led to widespread violence, enslavement, and forced relocations, which disrupted and transformed Indigenous societies. The celebration of Columbus and other similar figures often overlooks the immense suffering experienced by Indigenous Peoples, as well as the enduring impact of colonialism.
Despite this, Indigenous People continue to persist. Today, Native Americans lead numerous movements advocating for their rights and preserving their cultures. The history of American Indian communities is one marked by cultural persistence, adaptive creativity, renewal, and resilience. Native Peoples, students, and allies have been instrumental in establishing Indigenous Peoples’ Day, which is now officially recognized in several states, including Maine, Oregon, Louisiana, New Mexico, Iowa, and Washington, DC. Celebrated on the second Monday of October, Indigenous Peoples’ Day honors the resilience and diversity of Native communities in the United States.
In promoting a more inclusive and accurate historical narrative, it is essential to incorporate Indigenous perspectives, such as those of the Taíno Peoples, in educational discussions about Columbus. We encourage students to advocate for the recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ Day as a replacement for Columbus Day in their schools, cities, states, and beyond.
Five culturally sensitive activities and resources to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day:
- Be sure to include contemporary examples in your lessons! Taíno Peoples currently live in Puerto Rico and other parts of the U.S. Read the article Taíno Survival: Back into History in American Indian Magazine.
- Read the article From the Shadows of History: Taíno at the Vatican in American Indian Magazine.
- Learn more about Indigenous Peoples’ Day in the article Indigenous Peoples’ Day: Rethinking How We Celebrate American History in Smithsonian Magazine.
- Read about the continuance of Taíno life in the article This Culture, Once Believed Extinct, Is Flourishing in Smithsonian Magazine.
