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| Maine Is the Latest State to Replace Columbus Day With Indigenous Peoples’ Day | Maine Is the Latest State to Replace Columbus Day With Indigenous Peoples’ Day |
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| Maine has replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day, joining an increasing number of states and localities that have made the change. | Maine has replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day, joining an increasing number of states and localities that have made the change. |
| “There is power in a name and in who we choose to honor,” Gov. Janet T. Mills of Maine said in a statement about the bill, which she signed into law on Friday. | “There is power in a name and in who we choose to honor,” Gov. Janet T. Mills of Maine said in a statement about the bill, which she signed into law on Friday. |
| At least six states and 130 cities and towns have now renamed the holiday. Columbus Day, the second Monday of October, has been a federal holiday since 1934. | At least six states and 130 cities and towns have now renamed the holiday. Columbus Day, the second Monday of October, has been a federal holiday since 1934. |
| New Mexico’s governor signed a similar bill this month, and Vermont’s legislature also passed a law, which is now awaiting the governor’s signature. North Carolina joined Alaska, South Dakota, Oregon and Minnesota — the first states to make the shift — in reorienting the holiday last year. | New Mexico’s governor signed a similar bill this month, and Vermont’s legislature also passed a law, which is now awaiting the governor’s signature. North Carolina joined Alaska, South Dakota, Oregon and Minnesota — the first states to make the shift — in reorienting the holiday last year. |
| The case for renaming the holiday in Maine was built on similar points made by lawmakers in other states: Though Christopher Columbus is often credited with discovering America, he never actually set foot on the shores of the continental United States. | The case for renaming the holiday in Maine was built on similar points made by lawmakers in other states: Though Christopher Columbus is often credited with discovering America, he never actually set foot on the shores of the continental United States. |
| “Other than him sailing the ocean blue, I don’t know what we can really credit” Columbus with, State Representative Roger Reed said at a hearing for the bill, The Beacon of Maine reported. | “Other than him sailing the ocean blue, I don’t know what we can really credit” Columbus with, State Representative Roger Reed said at a hearing for the bill, The Beacon of Maine reported. |
| Those who favor renaming the holiday make the points that there were millions of people already living in North America in 1492 and that Columbus’s journey encouraged centuries of exploitation of Native Americans. | Those who favor renaming the holiday make the points that there were millions of people already living in North America in 1492 and that Columbus’s journey encouraged centuries of exploitation of Native Americans. |
| Ambassador Maulian Dana of the Penobscot Nation spoke at the bill-signing ceremony. | Ambassador Maulian Dana of the Penobscot Nation spoke at the bill-signing ceremony. |
| “As the original stewards of these lands and waters, we are happy that our ancestral ties and contributions are validated and celebrated instead of silenced and ignored by the previous holiday that glorified the attempted genocide of our Nations,” she said in the statement. | “As the original stewards of these lands and waters, we are happy that our ancestral ties and contributions are validated and celebrated instead of silenced and ignored by the previous holiday that glorified the attempted genocide of our Nations,” she said in the statement. |
| The bill gathered bipartisan support in Maine’s House and Senate. The primary concern that emerged during the hearings, according to The Beacon, was that Columbus Day was seen as being important in the celebration of Italian-Americans’ heritage. | The bill gathered bipartisan support in Maine’s House and Senate. The primary concern that emerged during the hearings, according to The Beacon, was that Columbus Day was seen as being important in the celebration of Italian-Americans’ heritage. |
| Several cities and states across the United States have already renamed the holiday, including Berkeley, Calif., which had its first Indigenous Peoples Day in 1992. (Although they seem to agree with one another on the sentiment, they don’t agree on the apostrophe. Brown University said it would celebrate Indigenous People’s Day, Minneapolis celebrates Indigenous Peoples Day, while Seattle celebrates Indigenous Peoples’ Day.) | Several cities and states across the United States have already renamed the holiday, including Berkeley, Calif., which had its first Indigenous Peoples Day in 1992. (Although they seem to agree with one another on the sentiment, they don’t agree on the apostrophe. Brown University said it would celebrate Indigenous People’s Day, Minneapolis celebrates Indigenous Peoples Day, while Seattle celebrates Indigenous Peoples’ Day.) |
| In Hawaii, the holiday is known as Discoverers’ Day, and it’s Native Americans’ Day in South Dakota. Alaska renamed it Indigenous Peoples Day in 2015, while Washington State does not recognize Columbus Day as a legal holiday. | In Hawaii, the holiday is known as Discoverers’ Day, and it’s Native Americans’ Day in South Dakota. Alaska renamed it Indigenous Peoples Day in 2015, while Washington State does not recognize Columbus Day as a legal holiday. |
| Some other states and cities have sought other ways to address history. In February, Sandusky, Ohio, swapped the holiday for Election Day to make it easier for residents to vote. | Some other states and cities have sought other ways to address history. In February, Sandusky, Ohio, swapped the holiday for Election Day to make it easier for residents to vote. |
| Others have tried to recognize Native Americans, without giving up the original holiday. A few days before Ms. Mills signed the bill in Maine, Gov. Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma signed into law a bill to dedicate the October holiday to both Columbus and Native Americans. | |
| “It just gives us one opportunity to celebrate Columbus, but also the indigenous people here in America,” said Mr. Stitt, who is a member of a Native American tribe himself. | “It just gives us one opportunity to celebrate Columbus, but also the indigenous people here in America,” said Mr. Stitt, who is a member of a Native American tribe himself. |
| Columbus Day continues to be a federal holiday. Last October, President Trump released a statement celebrating the explorer. | Columbus Day continues to be a federal holiday. Last October, President Trump released a statement celebrating the explorer. |
| “On Columbus Day, we commemorate the achievements of this skilled Italian explorer and recognize his courage, will power, and ambition — all values we cherish as Americans,” he said. | “On Columbus Day, we commemorate the achievements of this skilled Italian explorer and recognize his courage, will power, and ambition — all values we cherish as Americans,” he said. |