The Dallas City Council voted to recognize the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
Supporters like Dallas council member Omar Narvaez say the resolution helps create healing and reconciliation and provide an accurate representation of state and local history.
"I want to make sure my colleagues understand and recognize that we are not replacing Columbus Day here," Narvaez said. "You want to know why? Because the city of Dallas does not recognize Columbus Day anyway. So we’re not replacing it. ... So this would be an actual honoring of indigenous peoples."
Leroy Peña is a member of the Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas and national director of the Red Handed Warrior Society. He addressed the City Council on Tuesday.
"So we’re looking to make this an annual celebration, a celebration that is the history of my ancestors," Peña said. "... but those of you who live here in the city and the county, this is also now your history, too."
The Dallas resolution also encourages public schools to include teaching of the history of indigenous peoples.
Dallas joins at least 130 other cities across the country in recognizing Indigenous Peoples’ Day, including Austin.
