Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration sparks conversations over native representation

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Richmonders and local tribal representatives met in the city's East End on Sunday, Nov. 16 to honor Virginia's 11 recognized Indigenous tribes.

On Sunday, Nov. 16, the Indigenous Peoples Day' celebration was held at Powhatan Playground. This event is normally held on or around the second Monday in October, but it had to be rescheduled.

Historically, governments and organizations have honored that Monday as "Columbus Day" -- but some want to change the narrative.

The Pocahontas Project, an organization supporting and uplifting native voices, organizes the day and stands proud with Virginia's native tribes, including the Monacan, who are featured.

Monacan Nation Chief Diana Shields said there's more to the celebration on Sunday -- it's a day about visibility. The Monacan traditions aren't something you can only find in museums. They still exist today.

"We work in the real world, but we continue to have our culture and promote that for our young people and our elders also because we want to keep them alive," Shields said.

That culture could be found during Sunday's event through its craft vendors, art, prayer and food.

"Any time native people get together, it works out all right," Shields said.

In some localities, Italian explorer Christopher Columbus is recognized on the second Monday in October, who is called "a discoverer of the Americas." Virginia law still recognizes "Columbus Day" as a state holiday.

Indigenous Peoples' Day's importance stems from how indigenous peoples are represented, Shields said.

"We fought against that being called 'Columbus' because he didn't discover anything," she said. "He was lost, and we found him. Our ancestors found him and, somehow, he gets all of the credit for it."

Shields added that it's her people who have been here for thousands of years -- and they're not going away any time soon.

"Our traditions will go on and on," she said.

Strides have been made nationwide to honor indigenous history on that Monday, including Richmond, which has honored "Richmond Indigenous Peoples' Day" since 2022.