In December, the Hillsborough Board of Commissioners voted to recognize the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples Day.
The second Monday in October is already recognized as a federal holiday, Columbus Day – marking the anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ first arrival in the Americas (October 12, 1492). But various municipalities around the country have passed resolutions to use that date to commemorate the other side – recognizing not the European explorers and settlers, but the Native Americans who were ultimately displaced by that exploration. Berkeley, California, was the first to recognize Indigenous Peoples Day – they did it in 1992, on the 500th anniversary of Columbus’ landing – and Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough all passed similar resolutions this year.
Good idea? On WCHL this week, Aaron Keck (who’s in favor) discussed the resolution with Hillsborough conservative Ashley DeSena (who’s opposed).
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