Oct 10, 2025 - News
Columbus Day vs. Indigenous Peoples' Day
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Columbus Day is the federal holiday on the second Monday in October. But that's not what it's called everywhere.
Why it matters: Efforts to change the focus of the holiday from Christopher Columbus to the contributions of Native Americans have been underway since the early 1990s.
Zoom in: Utah law recognizes Monday as Columbus Day as a state holiday.
- Indigenous People's Day is designated as a "state commemorative period" on the Monday before Thanksgiving.
Catch up quick: Lawmakers in Congress reintroduced legislation last fall to have Indigenous Peoples' Day replace Columbus Day.
Flashback: In 2021, President Biden became the first president to issue an official proclamation commemorating Indigenous People's Day.