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Date: 3/9/2021
EASTHAMPTON – The Easthampton City Council agreed to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous People’s Day after a public hearing during its March 3 meeting.
Councilors Owen Zaret and Salem Derby were responsible for generating this proposal.
Derby said, “This is something that we both feel really strongly about. I think that this is something that has been a long time coming and is due.”
Zaret explained, “The issue at hand is the matter of celebrating Columbus Day and what that actually means. It creates a false narrative of a hero – at least I believe it puts Columbus on a pedestal for discovering a world where many many people, nations and cultures already reside in.”
He went on to say that the way in which Columbus Day is celebrated is misleading and improper. In fact, Columbus never set foot in America, but rather in the Caribbean. “His trip of exploration was much more of conquest, colonialism, slavery and genocide,” Zaret added.
The focus has been switched away from the people who were here long before and discovered, yet were eliminated from history, he added.
In Easthampton and in Massachusetts, there are many indigenous people who currently live and have lived in the area, it was noted. “If you look around our city itself, we have names of the people who have lived here – Nashawannuck Pond, the Manhan Rail Trail, Nonotuck Park, the Pascommuck Land Trust … These names all come from people who possess this land until we chose to come here and in acts of colonialism and murder, take this land away from people,” said Zaret.
Zaret and Derby stated their belief that the least the city could do is refocus this discussion of this holiday that they considered to be celebrating a hero who they felt truly isn’t a hero. Rather, they suggested the community should be celebrating the culture and languages of those who aren’t represented, those whose voices aren’t heard or for those who are no longer here.
Zaret explained they have been able to get in touch with and collaborate with members of tribal organizations across Massachusetts. They have also received letters of support from a variety of organizations, including the Western Massachusetts Commission and Indian Affairs.
Derby is personally a part of a Massachusetts tribe. He wrote a letter to the City Council explaining the connection to his Indigenous roots, along with the passion and love of his culture that his family installed with him.
Participants were able to speak, as many shared their opinions and research on Christopher Columbus and Indigenous people, citing violent acts such as murder, rape, racism and more.
Some indicated it was painful to see some people supporting and defending someone who has done so wrong and the acts of Christopher Columbus do not align with the morality, culture and values of Easthampton.
Others spoke on the fact that the holiday contributes to teaching the wrong information to children with schools creating a false image, along with degrading the Indigenous people who were here before us and acknowledgement of their history.
Massachusetts is currently one of 26 states that do not celebrate Indigenous People’s Day, though some other municipalities in the commonwealth have made the switch.
City Council members encouraged folks to do their research, take this matter seriously and most importantly, learn the truth and stop the lies.
Zaret informed participants that the superintendent of the Easthampton school district fully supports the switch.
Zaret added, “We can’t just check a box. This is just one step in the right direction.”
When the motion was put forward, there was a unanimous agreement from all council members.