Indigenous Peoples Day moves forward

The Nevada Senate late last month gave unanimous approval to a bill requesting the governor to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day in Nevada.

American Indian representatives testified in February Columbus Day is an insult to tribal members.

“The history of genocide is horrific,” said sponsor Sen. Tick Segerblom, D-Las Vegas.

Arlen Melendez of the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony said the change wasn’t intended as a comment on the contributions of Italian Americans in this country. But he said Columbus was “the poster boy” of the European invasion of the Americas. He said American Indians haven’t been treated fairly in American history and changing Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day would “celebrate the opportunity to present historical truth.”

But SB105 has languished on the Secretary’s Desk pretty much since it was approved by the Government Affairs Committee.

To get it out, Segerblom accepted an amendment basically gutting the original concept by asking the governor instead to recognize indigenous people on Aug. 9 each year, the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, and leaving Columbus Day in October intact.

SB105 goes to the Assembly for consideration. ❂