Detroit Councilwoman Wants Indigenous Peoples Day — And To Get Rid Of Christopher Columbus Statue

DETROIT, MI—Although most people will celebrate Columbus Day today—Monday, Oct. 9—Council member Raquel Castañeda-López on Tuesday will introduce a resolution to establish Indigenous Peoples' Day to replace the current holiday going forward in the Motor City. The new holiday would honor Detroit's Native American community, as well as the state's 12 federally recognized tribes.

Castañeda-López also wants the city of Detroit to remove the Christopher Columbus bust in downtown Detroit. In its place, she wants a tribute to an indigenous figure, according to a statement from her office on Monday.

"Everyone is agreement that Christopher Columbus had a negative impact, to say the least, and is not someone we should be celebrating," said Castañeda-López in an interview with Patch on Monday. She said the people of Detroit and the nation should celebrate "a more accurate picture" of history. Her goal is to see a memorial that reflects the city as "welcoming to all."

Watch: Calls To Replace Columbus Day Are Gaining Momentum

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The resolution, which has been in the works for a couple of years, urges Mayor Mike Duggan to ensure all public offices refer to the second Monday of October as Indigenous Peoples' Day rather than Columbus Day. It also encourages the Detroit Public Schools to follow suit.

A Change.org campaign, meanwhile, has received signatures from more than 1,600 people in favor of removing the statue. "We demand that the city memorialize one of our cultural/political forbears such as Tecumseh, Sojourner Truth, Charity Hicks, Chief Pontiac, Judge Damon Keith, or Grace Lee Boggs," reads the petition.

Castañeda-López has worked with the Indigenous communities in Montana at the Missoula Indian Center and in Detroit at the American Indian Health & Family Services. Representatives from the Native community will be present at Tuesday’s City Council meeting to give a short presentation and urge the adoption of the resolution.

Lead photo used with permission from Councilwoman Castañeda-López's office. Secondary photo by Spencer Platt / Staff//Getty Images