More of us are researching the atrocities committed by Columbus and choosing to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day over Columbus Day. Native peoples of North America, the continent, not just the United States, have known this and choose to commemorate the colonization-led genocide of 12 to 15 million Indigenous peoples instead.
The unofficial international holiday honoring Indigenous peoples was intentionally created as a counterpoint to Columbus Day in 1977 during a United Nations conference in Geneva. Indigenous delegates worldwide resolved “to observe October 12, the day of so-called 'discovery' of America, as an International Day of Solidarity with the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas.”
In Los Angeles, we are fortunate to have Indigenous leaders like Odilia Romero, executive director of CIELO and a Zapoteca Human Rights Activist from Oaxaca. From her TEDxTalk addressing why Indigenous people want you to stop labeling them as “Latino” to her stories crediting Oaxaca’s Mixe community for creating L.A.’s omnipotent al pastor taco scene, her teachings continually offer us opportunities to learn (and unlearn).