The Lane County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution, 4-1, on Tuesday declaring the second Monday of October Indigenous Peoples' Day. This is the first time the county has made this declaration.
The county joins the cities of Eugene and Springfield as well as other cities, counties, and states across the country in making the change to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples' Day.
“In spite of what many of us were taught as children, Christopher Columbus did not ‘discover’ the Americas. There were thriving and vibrant Indigenous cultures across this continent long before Europeans arrived,” said Board Chair Joe Berney.
“This declaration is one step toward recognizing the many contributions Indigenous people have made to our community, particularly the Kalapuya peoples whose traditional homeland is where Lane County now stands.”
The declaration calls for the county to "reflect on the ongoing struggles of Indigenous people and to celebrate the thriving cultures and values of the Indigenous peoples in the region, and to stand in solidarity with Indigenous peoples elsewhere."
Commissioner Jay Bozievich voted against the resolution. He said he would support an Indigenous Peoples' Day if it didn't replace Columbus Day.
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