ילד שלא אוכל כלום

A total of 17 states and Washington, D.C., honor Indigenous people on the second Monday in October, according to the Pew Research Center. 

In six states, the holiday is recognized as a paid holiday alongside Columbus Day. Four states designated the paid holiday on its own. 

Seven states recognize it as an unpaid holiday. 

Read More on News

Democrats Seize on Trump Remarks About Americans’ Finances and Iran War5 min read

The Significance of UAE, Saudi Arabia Offensive Attacks in Iran War8 min read

Trump Net Approval Matches Biden’s Record Low With Top Pollster4 min read

Indigenous People’s Day Meaning: When Was It Established? 

Indigenous People’s Day has been celebrated for decades under various names. Indigenous people began advocating for the day in the 1970s. 

The purpose of the day is to celebrate Native American history and culture while acknowledging the challenges the community continues to face. 

In 2021, then-President Joe Biden issued the first-ever presidential proclamation of Indigenous Peoples Day. 

...

Which States Honor Indigenous People’s Day? 

Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island celebrate Indigenous People’s Day as a paid holiday along with Columbus Day. Alabama does as well, but it calls the holiday American Indian Heritage Day. 

Maine, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Vermont celebrate the paid holiday on their own. Maine, New Mexico and Vermont all replaced the Columbus Day holiday with Indigenous Peoples Day in 2019. South Dakota renamed the holiday to Native American Day in 1990, according to ACLU South Dakota. 

Alaska, California, Hawaii, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Oregon and Wisconsin honor Indigenous people with an unpaid holiday on the second Monday in October. 

Multiple states celebrate Native American culture with paid or unpaid holidays at other times of the year. 

What Tribes are Considered Indigenous? 

Indigenous peoples are the descendants of people who inhabited the Americas, the Pacific and parts of Asia and Africa before European colonization. 

The U.S. federally recognizes 574 tribes. 

Why Don’t People Celebrate Columbus Day? 

People who argue against celebrating Columbus Day cite Christopher Columbus’s mistreatment of Indigenous people and the era of European settlement initiated by his voyages, the Pew Research Center reported. 

Indigenous People’s Day is often marked by protests for a variety of causes, including demonstrations against Columbus memorials. 

A total of 13 states still recognize Columbus Day as a paid holiday without acknowledging Indigenous Peoples Day: Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Utah and West Viriginia. 

Illinois, Missouri, Utah and West Viriginia celebrate Indigenous culture as an unpaid holiday on a different day. Maryland celebrates the culture as a paid holiday on a different day. 

This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.

Do you have a story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact [email protected].