As part of the movement to take down statues colonial leaders who were responsible for the genocide and slavery upon which the United States economy was built, the holiday Columbus Day is undergoing a paradigm shift and being “taken down.”
Led by indigenous rights leaders, a movement is growing stronger that is celebrating Indigenous People’s Day, instead of Columbus Day. Alliance for a Viable Future is part of this growing movement that believes we must officially change the Columbus Day holiday, in the Federal government, and rename it as Indigenous People’s Day.
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We have all heard the voices of Indigenous People who are calling for an end to the celebration of Columbus. We support joining the dozens of other cities (including in Massachusetts, Cambridge and Harvard College, Somerville, Brookline, Marblehead, Amherst and Northampton) and entire states, including Minnesota, Alaska, Vermont, Oregon, and North Carolina, who have already replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day. Hawaii celebrates Discoverers’ Day on the second Monday of October. And South Dakota celebrates Native American Day.”
Indigenous peoples and local communities are some of the most important partners in the global struggle to contain climate change and preserve biodiversity.
Twenty-five percent of the world’s land is managed by or designated for Indigenous peoples and local communities. With their territories harboring more than 17 percent of the world’s forest carbon, and much of global biodiversity, Indigenous peoples and local communities are among the Earth’s most important stewards. Their leadership is key to conservation and sustainable development of their own lands, the territories surrounding them and ecosystems globally.