Some Cities Follow Trend Toward Indigenous People's Day
BOULDER, Colo. (CBS4)- Denver and Boulder joined a growing list of cities honoring Indigenous People's Day, formerly known as Columbus Day.
The Boulder City Council approved the cultural celebration in August. The two-day event acquaints people with Native American music, dance and events.
Silas Atkins, a father who lives in Boulder, brought his two children to the main event near Boulder's City Park and Band Shell for it to be a teachable moment.
"I want to expose them some of what's happening with the Columbus Day reclamation to Indigenous day," he says. "To educate them on things they don't know about because a lot of people were pushed out."
Boulder's celebration honors the city's first residents says Nikhil Mankekar. He's part of the human relations commission that will help organize this yearly event.
Mankekar says the events are about telling the true origin story of Boulder and promoting healing through historical accuracy, "We need to be honest about the history and making people who are often left invisible in the community... visible."
There are more than a dozen other cities in the nation that celebrate Indigenous Day.
Jennifer Brice is a reporter with CBS4 focusing on crime and courts. Follow her on Facebook or on Twitter @CBS4Jenn.