You probably noticed the calendar looks a little different lately. It used to be simple. You had that long weekend in October, grabbed a mattress on sale, and maybe thought about three ships from a grade school rhyme. But things shifted. Now, if you look at your iPhone calendar or check the local news, you’ll see that Columbus Day is now called Indigenous Peoples’ Day in a massive chunk of the United States. It isn’t just a name change. It’s a total overhaul of how we look at American history.
Change is messy. Some people are thrilled. Others are genuinely annoyed, feeling like a piece of their heritage is being erased. It’s a tug-of-war between celebrating an Italian explorer and acknowledging the civilizations that were already here—and the devastation that followed 1492.
Why the name actually shifted
Why now? Or rather, why over the last decade? The momentum didn't come out of nowhere. It started way back in 1977 at a United Nations conference in Geneva. Indigenous delegates proposed the idea of replacing Columbus Day to flip the narrative. They wanted to move away from the "discovery" myth. Fast forward to 1990, and South Dakota became the first state to officially ditch the old name in favor of Native American Day.
Then Berkeley, California, jumped in. They rebranded the holiday in 1992 to mark the 500th anniversary of Columbus’s arrival. It was a protest. Since then, the trickle turned into a flood.
The core of the argument is pretty straightforward. For many Native American communities, Christopher Columbus isn't a hero. He represents the beginning of a cycle of colonization, enslavement, and systemic violence. When we say Columbus Day is now called something else, we’re acknowledging that "discovery" is a one-sided word. You can't discover a place where millions of people are already living, trading, and building cities.
The legal landscape of the holiday
Is it a federal holiday? Yes. Does the federal government still call it Columbus Day? Technically, yes—but with a twist. President Joe Biden made history in 2021 by issuing the first-ever presidential proclamation for Indigenous Peoples’ Day. He didn't delete the old holiday (that takes an Act of Congress), but he essentially ran them parallel to each other.
The map of who celebrates what is a patchwork quilt. It’s confusing.
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- States that have fully transitioned: Places like New Mexico, Maine, and Oregon have officially swapped the names in their state statutes.
- The "Both" Camp: Some states, like Tennessee or Alabama, recognize both or have specific days for both.
- The Holdouts: Many cities with deep Italian-American roots, particularly in the Northeast, keep the original name to honor Italian heritage and the immigrant experience.
Honestly, it depends on where you’re standing. If you’re in Phoenix, it’s Indigenous Peoples’ Day. If you’re at a parade in New York City, the banners still scream Columbus.
The Italian-American Perspective
We have to talk about the Italian-American community here. For many, Columbus Day wasn't originally about the man himself; it was about stopping the intense discrimination against Italian immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. After the 1891 lynching of eleven Italian Americans in New Orleans—one of the largest mass lynchings in U.S. history—President Benjamin Harrison created Columbus Day as a one-time celebration to ease tensions.
It was a way to say, "Hey, we belong here too."
So, when people hear that Columbus Day is now called something else, they feel a sense of loss. They feel like a holiday meant to validate their place in America is being stripped away. This is why you see such heated school board meetings and city council debates. It’s two different groups of people both fighting for their right to be seen in the national narrative.
What happens on the day now?
It’s not just about the name on the mail truck. The way people spend the day is changing. In cities that have embraced the shift, you’ll find sunrise ceremonies, traditional dancing, and markets featuring Indigenous artists.
It’s about visibility.
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Take a look at the "Land Back" movement or the push for better education regarding the boarding school era. These aren't just hashtags; they are real policy discussions happening because the conversation around this holiday opened a door. When a city decides that Columbus Day is now called Indigenous Peoples’ Day, they often follow up with land acknowledgments or revised school curriculums.
The ripple effect in schools and offices
You've probably seen your HR department send out an email about this. Corporations are terrified of getting it "wrong." Most big tech companies and banks have moved toward the "Indigenous Peoples’ Day" branding because it aligns with modern DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) goals.
In schools, the "Nia, Pinta, and Santa Maria" coloring pages are mostly gone. Teachers are now focusing on the Taino people—the folks Columbus actually encountered. They’re talking about geography, navigation, and, yes, the harsh realities of the encomienda system. It’s a more complex version of history. It's harder to teach, but it’s more accurate.
Does the name change actually matter?
Some people argue it’s just performative. "Changing a name doesn't fix the water crisis on the Navajo Nation," they say. And they’re right. A name change is symbolic. But symbols dictate what we value as a society.
If the government chooses to honor the survivors of colonization rather than the catalyst of it, that signals a shift in national priorities. It’s the difference between looking backward with nostalgia and looking forward with a bit more honesty.
The fact remains: the name "Columbus Day" is fading. It’s becoming a relic of a 20th-century view of American identity. As more Gen Z and Alpha voters come of age, the pressure to finalize this transition will only grow. Most people under 30 already refer to it by the new name without even thinking twice.
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Moving forward: How to navigate the day
If you're wondering how to handle this shift, whether you're a business owner or just a curious citizen, here’s the reality. The world didn't end when the name changed. It just got a little more crowded with perspectives.
Learn whose land you’re on. There are great apps like Native Land Digital that show you the ancestral territories of your specific zip code. It's an eye-opener.
Support local Indigenous businesses. If you're going to shop those October sales, maybe look for Native-owned brands. Whether it's jewelry, coffee, or clothing, putting your money where the movement is makes the holiday more than just a name change.
Acknowledge the complexity. You can celebrate Italian-American heritage without clinging to a specific 15th-century figure. Many communities are now pushing for "Italian-American Heritage Day" to be a separate thing, distinct from the October holiday. This keeps the celebration of culture alive without the historical baggage attached to Columbus.
Check your local ordinances. If you're a government contractor or a business owner, make sure your official calendars and holiday pay policies reflect the name used in your specific jurisdiction. Avoid the headache of using the wrong terminology in official documents.
The reality is that Columbus Day is now called Indigenous Peoples’ Day in the hearts, minds, and laws of a growing majority of the country. It’s a transition that reflects a broader desire for a history that includes everyone, even the parts that are uncomfortable to talk about. Change is slow, but it’s happening, one calendar entry at a time.