Today is a federal holiday.

Columbus Day.

But that holiday is taking a backseat to a state holiday.

Indigenous Peoples day.

Now the woman responsible for getting that day recognized in Kentucky.

Talk to us about the history and myths surrounding indigenous people and Christopher Columbus.

It's really important to discuss the, the true history of Native Americans and their rich, you know, rich history and culture and but but also, the the true history of European exploration.

So indigenous people say, is another way of celebrating this day.

But many people celebrate Christopher Columbus Day.

And Christopher Columbus wasn't the person that we were taught that that he was.

He was told by explorers and scientists of his time that actually the Earth was larger than was thought, and he didn't listen.

And he thought the finding of the, you know, passage to India would be rather easy.

And he thought that he had landed in India.

He was actually lost.

He never set foot on the mainland of North America, ever.

He he landed in on the island of what is now known as Hispaniola.

And, he murdered them and, you know, burned their villages.

And so we really need to remember, Native Americans at this time and, and the, the all the issues that they faced before that are now further complicated by the political climate.

Indigenous people stay is both a celebration of indigenous culture and history, and it's also an opportunity to discuss the problems and issues facing the indigenous community.

You know, not only throughout this country, but throughout the Americas.

And that's issues such as poverty and, access to clean water, access to health care, you know, missing and murdered indigenous peoples, particularly missing and murdered women who are, subjected to higher rates of domestic violence and domestic abuse and human trafficking and that sort of thing, our concerns.

And so we celebrate indigenous people stay to also bring attention to the various, contributions to our shared society.

The list goes on and on.

We don't have the population say that New Mexico, you know, other states have.

But but we do have people here who are involved in the community.

And, there's also festivals, you know, Powells that bring in Native Americans from other states, that participate in the various festivals.

So there's been to my understanding, about 30 for indigenous people, say, proclamations past in Kentucky since that time, since 2017, and city, county and state governments and, that constitutes more indigenous people, say, proclamation passages than any other state in the United States since 1992.

Indigenous Peoples Day is not a federal holiday, but it has been recognized with presidential declarations in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.