Oklahoma City could observe Indigenous Peoples Day

"Touch the Clouds" sculpture by Dave McGary stands outside the University of Central Oklahoma, signifying the importance of American-Indian culture in Oklahoma. Photo by Emily Thornton — “Touch the Clouds” sculpture by Dave McGary stands outside the University of Central Oklahoma, signifying the importance of American-Indian culture in the state. *Photo by Emily Thornton*

Oklahoma City officials may declare the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples Day to coincide with the federally observed Columbus Day.

According to NewsOK, the day would not become an official holiday but rather an observance to honor indigenous people, their history and their contributions to Oklahoma City.

Indigenous Peoples Day is honored on Oct. 12 in California, Minnesota and Washington state. In South Dakota it is observed under Native Americans’ Day.

Columbus Day is a national holiday, but 17 states do not observe it. This includes Alaska, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

According to Time and Date, the lack of observation of the holiday is due to the controversy surrounding Christopher Columbus and the European colonization and conquest of the Americas, which led to a demise of the history and culture of indigenous peoples. California was the first city in the United States to “formally recognize a new holiday, challenging the idea that Christopher Columbus ‘discovered’ America with his 1492 voyage.”

Professor of History Gary Lindsey said celebrating Columbus is ironic.

“It was not his intention to discover the western hemisphere,” Lindsey said.

Native American Sarah Adams-Cornell said in an interview with KFOR that she struggles with the annual reminder of Columbus who, based on some historic accounts, murdered, enslaved and raped indigenous people, and finds it to be a disrespect to honor him.

“This is not someone that we should be looking up to — that we should be teaching our children he’s a hero,” Adams-Cornell said.

Professor of History Matt McCook said Columbus Day is not a celebration of just one person, however.

“It’s just recognition that this was a turning point in all of world history,” McCook said.

According to Time and Date, in South Dakota on Native Americans’ Day, the culture and background of Native American traditions is not only celebrated but is studied and is the focus of education for that day.

“Studying the real history would mean don’t just judge Columbus or anybody else based on the views that have been accepted by society today — look at them in their own context,” McCook said. “It’s not going to be as black and white as people fighting the political battles are going to want it to be.”

Lindsey said creating an observance of Indigenous Peoples Day would not make a large enough difference for those who are against the idea of Columbus Day.

“Putting into effect the Indigenous Peoples Day is not going to correct the wrongs of the past,” Lindsey said.

While Oklahoma City decides whether or not override Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day, McCook said he fears what might happen.

“What Indigenous Peoples Day will encourage is simply dig up and emphasize only those negative things about Columbus and all that came after it,” McCook said.

McCook said a better solution would be to stop recognizing Columbus Day entirely, instead of trying to create a balance with a new sate observance.

The Indigenous Peoples Day resolution will be on the agenda for the Oklahoma City Council on Oct. 13.