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Columbus or Indigenous? A Battle Ensues Columbus or Indigenous? A Battle Ensues

By James Colgan

TODAY IS OFFICIALLY COLUMBUS DAY IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE, BUT THE ONONDAGA NATION IS HOPING THAT IN A FEW YEARS’ TIME, THE HOLIDAY WILL BE KNOWN BY A NEW NAME.OUR JAMES COLGAN IS IN COLUMBUS CIRCLE WHERE A DEMONSTRATION IN FAVOR OF “INDIGENOUS PEOPLE’S DAY” IS UNDERWAY. JAMES?

EVERYONE KNOWS THE STORY OF COLUMBUS DAY’S NAMESAKE CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS, WHO BECAME THE FIRST EUROPEAN TO DISCOVER AMERICA IN 1492. BUT COLUMBUS’S LEGACY OF TORTURE AND MURDER OF NATIVE AMERICANS HASN’T BEEN FORGOTTEN BY THE COUNTRY’S INDIGENOUS PEOPLE. EARLIER TODAY, THE NEIGHBORS OF THE ONONDAGA NATION HELD THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF EVENTS SUPPORTING CHANGING THE NAME OF TODAY TO “INDIGENOUS PEOPLE’S DAY” ON THE CAMPUS OF SUNY ESF. THE PROPOSED HOLIDAY WOULD BE A DAY IN CELEBRATION OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF NATIVE AMERICANS TO AMERICA. NATION MEMBERS COMBINED WITH STUDENTS AND ACTIVISTS TO PREPARE TODAY’S SERIES OF EVENTS, MOST IN CELEBRATION OF NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE. BUT NATION MEMBER MICHELLE MANOS SAYS ACHIEVING CHANGE ISN’T A GOAL, BUT A RIGHT. EARLIER TODAY, THE NEIGHBORS OF THE ONONDAGA NATION HELD THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF EVENTS SUPPORTING CHANGING THE NAME OF TODAY TO “INDIGENOUS PEOPLE’S DAY” ON THE CAMPUS OF SUNY ESF. THE PROPOSED HOLIDAY WOULD BE A DAY IN CELEBRATION OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF NATIVE AMERICANS TO AMERICA. NATION MEMBERS COMBINED WITH STUDENTS AND ACTIVISTS TO PREPARE TODAY’S SERIES OF EVENTS, MOST IN CELEBRATION OF NATIVE AMERICAN
HISTORY AND CULTURE. BUT NATION MEMBER MICHELLE MANOS SAYS ACHIEVING CHANGE ISN’T A GOAL, BUT A RIGHT.
“We haven’t been recognized in many years and so it’s time that people respect and honor us.”
DEMONSTRATORS WERE ENCOURAGED EARLIER TO JOIN NATION MEMBERS AT SUNY ESF IN PREPARING SIGNS AND COORDINATING PLANS FOR THIS AFTERNOON’S DEMONSTRATION.

SO JAMES YOU ARE CURRENTLY OUTSIDE COLUMBUS CIRCLE… NOW WE
HEARD EARLIER THAT A COUPLE KEY POLITICIANS WERE IN FAVOR OF KEEPING THE HOLIDAY THE WAY IT IS… WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT?

By James Colgan SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — As the sun rose on October 8th throughout Central New York, a group with very different ideas of how the day should be treated and remembered prepared for the day ahead. It was officially Columbus Day in the City of Syracuse, but the holiday’s name, and the history behind it, were the primary reasons the group was gearing up for the upcoming day.

Indigenous Peoples Day has sprung up in popularity in recent years in response to Columbus Day. Columbus, the European Explorer who discovered America in 1492, has posthumously faced scrutiny from activists and individuals who point out his history of violence and torture towards the communities of indigenous peoples in the United States.

The events of the day culminated towards a late afternoon rally in front of the Onondaga County Courthouse, the location of the city’s tribute to the European explorer Columbus. But first came a poster-making session and harvest celebration led by nation members and students at SUNY ESF.

Outside the poster making session, nation member Michelle Manos said she felt changing the name of the holiday was more important than just a courtesy.

“We’ve been overlooked for a long time, it’s time that they respect and honor us,” she said.

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