The second Monday in October will now be referred to as "Indigenous People's Day," rather than Columbus Day, on all official city communications in Minneapolis following a unanimous City Council vote on Friday morning.
The resolution brought hundreds of people to City Hall to commemorate the vote, which Native American activists have been seeking for many years.
"It's been a long time coming," said Clyde Bellecourt, a civil rights organizer. "For me, it's been almost 50 years that we've been talking about this pirate."
The language of the resolution notes that the federal government, state government and city government still recognize Columbus Day "in accordance with the federal holiday established in 1937." City attorney Susan Segal said some ordinances and collective bargaining agreements -- not to mention a few parking meters -- still mention Columbus Day.
But the new holiday will be reflected on city messaging, said city clerk Casey Carl. That includes the official calendar of the City Council and committee meetings.
"This is not necessarily about Columbus. He is not the center of our existence," said Council Member Alondra Cano, who spearheaded the change. "This is about the power of the American Indian people and indigenous communities all over the world. We are setting the record straight."
Both state Rep. Susan Allen and U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison said before the vote that they were interested in making similar efforts at the state and federal level.
"I hadn't thought of it until a young man just said 'What about doing [this] on the federal level?" Ellison said in an interview Friday. "I said that's an idea. So we're going to be thinking about it now."
