Presbyterians join many faith organizations to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day

The Rev. Irvin Porter collected numerous resources to help observe the day thoughtfully

December 5, 2023

Oct. 12, 1792, was the first observance in the United States of America of what we now know as “Columbus Day.” The Columbian Order of New York, better known as Tammany Hall, held a commemoration of the 300th anniversary of his historic arrival in the “New World.”

There are many Italians in both the United States and in Italy for whom “Columbus Day” is a celebration of heritage and not of the man himself. It was first hallowed as a legal holiday in the U.S. through the advocacy of Angelo Noce, a first-generation Italian, living in Denver, Colorado.

In 1892, the 400th anniversary of the voyage, after a lynching in New Orleans where a mob murdered 11 Italian immigrants, President Benjamin Harrison declared “Columbus Day” as a one-time national celebration to appease Italian Americans and ease diplomatic tensions with Italy. It was a time celebrated by observances and teaching moments to raise patriotism nationwide. This included instituting the use of a Pledge of Allegiance as composed by Francis Bellamy.

States, cities and municipalities in the U.S. have taken steps to replace “Columbus Day” with what they believe to be a more just day of recognition for the Indigenous Peoples of this land, now known as Indigenous Peoples’ Day. The idea is to recognize the Native populations displaced and decimated after the Christopher Columbus landed on San Salvador in the Caribbean. The disease introduced to millions of Indigenous peoples brought death, destruction of their cultures, and enslavement.

For those and many other reasons, many states and communities have forgone what is seen as the devastating consequences of “Discovery” from 1492 and decided to officially observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day instead, to recognize the Native populations who were summarily pushed aside by the coming of European culture to their territories, which archeological evidence has shown Native people had occupied for thousands of years.

In 2023, Native American advocates and other critics struggle to change the Columbus Day holiday because of Columbus’ own mistreatment of Natives and his legacy of European colonization.

It is not the goal of Indigenous Peoples’ Day to eradicate Italian American contributions to this society. But they are not the only contributors. The time has come to examine cultural genocide, the institution of slavery, and the ideas of “discovery” and how they all contribute to the American story and at what cost.

“Indigenous” peoples is a reference to the original inhabitants of a geographic region. The term “Native American” and “American Indian” have been used in referring to the Indigenous peoples of the United States of America, though the term “Indian” originated because Columbus believed he had reached the Indian Ocean. The best reference would be to use specific tribal names. Indigenous peoples’ use of terms to describe their race is not one size fits all. Different tribes, regional language groups and individuals have varying opinions about how they should be referred to.

The Rev. Irvin Porter

Visit these websites to learn more about Indigenous peoples:

• Native Knowledge 360°, Home | Native Knowledge 360° – Interactive Teaching Resources (si.edu) is run by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian.
• Unlearning Columbus Day myths, si.edu/nk360/resources/Unlearning-Columbus-Day-Myths-Indigenous-Peoples-Day
• PBS’s Native American Heritage Collection is here. The site includes Indigenous art, history and culture as told by historians, artists, students and scientists.
• The Zinn Education Project believes in taking a more engaging and more honest look at the past. Look at their resources on Native American topicshere.

Read books by Indigenous authors:

These reading materials can help everyone learn more about Indigenous peoples. Each of these lists includes books by Indigenous authors that tell the stories of specific Indigenous tribes.

• We Are Teachers compiled this list of 15 books by Indigenous authors for use in the classroom.
• Colours of Us has a list of elementary picture books about Native Americans that you can share with your class.
• The Los Angeles Public Library offers this list of upper-grade fiction.
• The New York Public Library suggests these books for adults.

Also, feel free to contact:

The Rev. Irvin Porter, Associate for Native American Intercultural Congregational Support, at irv.porter@pcusa.org

The Native American Intercultural Congregational Support webpage is here.

Click here to visit the PC(USA)’s Native American Ministries’ Facebook page.

The Rev. Irvin Porter is the Presbyterian Mission Agency’s Associate for Native American Intercultural Congregational Support.

Today’s Focus: Celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Let us join in prayer for:

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff
Nicholas Skaggs, Processing Archivist, Presbyterian Historical Society
Eva Slayton, Mission Specialist, 1001 New Worshiping Communities, Presbyterian Mission Agency

Let us pray

Creator of all that we are and will be, give us hearts to be neighbors who care, listen and support each other. We seek to “rejoice and be glad” in this day you have granted to us. Make sunrise in our hearts now and forevermore. Amen.