Melrose Would Celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day​ If Established

MELROSE, MA — The city can't strike Columbus Day from the books, but it can be among the growing number of communities who instead celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day, City Solicitor Robert Van Campen said.

Van Campen was speaking Monday night to the City Council at its request to explain what legal and regulatory powers Melrose has in establishing and recognizing Indigenous Peoples' Day.

He said Columbus Day can't be moved from the books without state or federal action, and the city has the holiday written into some of its collective bargaining agreements.

"Columbus Day is a legal holiday," Van Campen said. "It is codified in both federal and state law."

But he also said all it would take is a resolution or proclamation from the City Council or Mayor Paul Brodeur to establish Indigenous Peoples' Day. What's more, he gave assurances that the city would recognize and celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day on the second Monday of October — which is Columbus Day.

Several members of the public spoke at the meeting, all of them agreeing that it's time for Columbus Day to go.

"We cannot even attempt to heal when our colonizers ... continue to celebrate a terrorist," Faries Gray, sagamore of the Massachusett tribe, said.

"History that is not based on facts is mythology," Jim Garrett said.

The conversation came about after the School Committee's recent grappling with the holiday. The committee voted late during one August meeting to add Indigenous Peoples' Day to the district calendar, which is separate from the city calendar and not under city authority.

The move wasn't well received by people who said having one day recognizing both Columbus and Indigenous peoples was celebrating a brutalizer alongside his victims.

When the School Committee moved in September to strike Columbus Day — "A correction to a mistake that I made," Member Jen McAndrew said — some members believed there should be more time and conversation before a decision was made. Member Margaret Driscoll hoped to have the City Council weigh in on the matter.

Christopher Columbus's place in history has been criticized as his brutal exploits become more common knowledge.

You can reach Mike Carraggi at mike.carraggi@patch.com and follow him on Twitter @PatchCarraggi. Subscribe to Melrose Patch for free local news alerts and newsletters