Alexandria To Recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day

ALEXANDRIA, VA — The City of Alexandria will begin recognize the federal Columbus Day holiday as Indigenous Peoples’ Day. City Council voted on Sept. 10 to rebrand the day. Columbus Day remains a federal holiday.

The action recognizes Indigenous Peoples’ Day on every second Monday of October. The resolution adopted by the council also affirms the city’s participation in Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebrations, encourages the school district to teach indigenous peoples’ history with contemporary context and celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and efforts to promote the well-being and growth of Alexandria’s indigenous community and Indigenous Peoples’ Day. The city also calls on sports organizations in Virginia to stop using mascots resembling indigenous people.

The measure was proposed by Councilman Mo Seifeldein and Vice Mayor Elizabeth Bennett-Parker. In a memo to council, they said recognizing Indigenous Peoples' Day acknowledges the "overlooked history of oppression and the decimation of Native Americans."

Before Alexandria became a colonial port city, it was a trading center for Native Americans with several villages of the Doeg tribe nearby. Over time, Native Americans were displaced from their land onto reservations as English and colonial settlers occupied more land. Today Virginia is home to 11 indigenous tribes.

Alexandria joined over 130 cities in switching to Indigenous Peoples’ Day.