Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Holiday Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senate hearing draws wide support to make Indigenous Peoples' Day an official paired holiday with Columbus Day
Summary
Senate Bill 224 would designate the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples’ Day in Montana alongside Columbus Day, sponsor Senator Shane Morgeau told the Senate State Administration Committee.
Senator Shane Morgeau introduced Senate Bill 224 to the Senate State Administration Committee, describing the proposal as an effort to make the second Monday in October an official day to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day alongside Columbus Day.
Morgeau said proponents had worked across communities and tribal nations to make the holiday “reflective and inclusive for all Montanans,” and described the day as “a day that celebrates the ancestral lineage of all Montanans.” Dozens of proponents spoke in a long public‑comment period, including tribal leaders, nonprofit representatives, city officials and organizers of Indigenous Peoples’ Day events.
Testimony emphasized inclusion and education rather than replacement. Marsha Small, a cofounder of Indigenous Peoples Day Montana, said the shared celebration “will go a long way toward repatriating that civility, that relationship,” among communities. Representatives of Western Native Voice, the Blackfeet Nation, Fort Belknap Indian Community, Chippewa‑Cree and other tribal communities testified in support. The Montana American Indian Caucus submitted a letter dated 02/05/2025 urging a do‑pass recommendation.
Other supporters included municipalities and civic organizations that have adopted or proclaimed Indigenous Peoples’ Day locally. Former Bozeman Mayor Carson Taylor described using the day to combine education and community events, including round dances, presentations and cultural activities, and said the city converted a mayoral proclamation into ordinance-level recognition.
Supporters repeatedly stressed that the bill does not erase Columbus Day but allows communities to celebrate both: “This bill will not exclude Columbus Day, but rather include Indigenous Peoples Day,” Representative Shelly Fyant said in testimony. Several witnesses noted Montana’s tribal presence, including testimony that Montana is home to 12 federally recognized tribes across seven reservations.
Committee members asked clarifying questions about precedent and whether combining holidays had historical analogues; witnesses and the sponsor pointed to other states that recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day and to local programs and events across Montana. Senator Morgeau closed asking the committee to pass the bill. No committee vote or final action appears in the hearing record.
