- Columbus Day is a federal holiday that commemorates the maiden voyage undertaken by Christopher Columbus, and is observed on the second Monday of October. Columbus set sail west from Spain in 1492, reaching the islands of the present day Bahamas.
- First made a US federal holiday in 1937, Columbus Day has faced growing criticism for promoting the false impression that Christopher Columbus discovered the Americas, ignoring the Indigenous populations already living there for centuries.
- Indigenous Peoples’ Day was established in response to Columbus Day to honour the history, culture, and resilience of Native American communities while calling attention to the violence committed by European settlers.
- In 2021, President Joe Biden issued the first-ever presidential proclamation of Indigenous Peoples Day. He said in a statement that the day is meant to “honor America’s first inhabitants and the Tribal Nations that continue to thrive today.” He last marked Indigenous Peoples Day in 2024.
- President Donald Trump made clear in 2025 that he would not follow his predecessor’s practice of recognizing Indigenous Peoples Day alongside Columbus Day in October. He accused Democrats of denigrating the explorer’s legacy as he pressed his campaign to restore what he argues are traditional American icons.
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