October 12, 2020 marks not only Columbus Day, but Indigenous People’s Day in Arizona. Last month, Governor Doug Ducey added Indigenous People’s Day to the 2020 calendar, although it’s not clear whether the same will happen in years to come, according to the Arizona Republic. Jamescita Peshlakai, an Arizona state senator of the Navajo Nation, has spent years pushing for a day devoted to Indigenous people.
Last night, in light of Indigenous People’s Day, dozens of demonstrators marched through Flagstaff protesting colonialism, faciscim, and racism. Today, the city of Flagstaff will hold virtual events, where Indigenous leaders will discuss issues from criminal justice, to Arizona’s Indigenous history, to present-day, Indigenous cuisine.