Lawmakers, tribal leaders and Italian Americans debate replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Supporters and opponents of renaming Columbus Day as Indigenous Peoples’ Day presented contrasting views at a hybrid hearing of the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight, where bills S.2113 and H.3292 were heard.

Proponents, including tribal leaders and indigenous advocates, said changing the second Monday in October to Indigenous Peoples’ Day would acknowledge the history and ongoing presence of Native peoples in the Commonwealth and help correct historical erasure. Senator Jo Comerford testified in favor of S.2113 and framed the change as a response to calls from indigenous leaders across Massachusetts (Sen. Jo Comerford). Nina Lehi, president of the North American Indian Center of Boston, told the committee that Indigenous Peoples’ Day would replace a holiday that "glorifies a brutal colonizer" and called…