Denver scraps Columbus Day to celebrate Indigenous People’s Day

Mile-High city is home to 48 tribes and decendants of nearly 100 tribal nations

Ruth Sims, a Navajo/Oglala Sioux, holds a sign during a demonstration for Indigenous Peoples Day in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

The city of Denver is joining many other cities across the states to commemorate the history America’s first settlers — Native Americans.

The Denver city council voted unanimously on Monday to make 12 October Indigenous People’s Day. The Denver Post reports that the vote was well-recieved by audience members.

Alaska reportedly followed suit by replacing Columbus Day, the holiday that celebrates Christopher Columbus' journey to Americas, but has been repealed in some states because of his genocide, rape, enslavement and ultimately disturbing history colonising the Americas.

Councilman Paul López worked with the Denver American Indian Commission to draft the proclamation. Mr López told ABC7 that the bill reminds Americans the large contributions Native Americans made to Denver and the rest of the states.

“Far too often the contributions of indigenous peoples’ go unrecognized in our history and textbooks, misrepresenting how much of the United States was settled, including Denver,” he said.

“It is unfortunate that many people do not know this history, and it is important that we recognize the entire history of our Nation. This proclamation is intended to bring attention to and celebrate the contributions of indigenous people to our great City and Country."

The Post reports that Mile-High City is home to 48 tribes and decendants of nearly 100 tribal nations.