Skip to main content

Natural Awakenings Fairfield & Southern Litchfield Counties

American Roots: Columbus Day Renamed to Honor First Peoples

Fernando Cortes/Shutterstock.com

Many people feel that Christopher Columbus is partly responsible for the genocide of Native Americans, and bestowing him a day of celebration adds insult to injury. In a progressive move, the Anadarko City Council, in Oklahoma, unanimously voted to change Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples’ Day—observed this year on October 9. City employees get the holiday off, and other municipalities in Oklahoma have followed suit.


This article appears in the October 2017 issue of Natural Awakenings.

Coming in April 2026
 2026 Natural Living Directory: Reserve your space NOW. Coming April 2026! There is something for every marketing budget, from $25 classified listings, to full page ads. Read More » 
Coming in March
Final Deadline February 10th. Email [email protected] today for details and to reserve your space.



2026 Editorial Calendar