OHIO – For generations, Columbus Day has been recognized as a celebration of exploration and Italian-American heritage. But for many Native Americans, it’s a painful reminder of colonization, violence, and cultural erasure — sparking an ongoing national debate that continues to evolve.
When Christopher Columbus landed in the New World on October 12, 1492, history books long credited him with “discovering” America. Yet, Indigenous communities argue that the lands he reached were already home to thriving nations — and that his arrival marked the beginning of centuries of oppression.
Columbus Day became a federal holiday in 1972, but since the 1990s, Native American activists have pushed to replace it with Indigenous Peoples’ Day, a day to honor Native resilience, history, and culture rather than colonial conquest…