NORTHAMPTON — Many Massachusetts communities already recognize the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples Day, even though the commonwealth continues to mark the federal holiday as Columbus Day.
As another year passes with no change in the day’s official designation by the state, Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, says she is increasingly confident that her legislative bill, known as “An act establishing an Indigenous Peoples Day,” is moving closer to becoming law.
The bill, which would help to recognize the genocide and discrimination against Native Americans, was reported favorably from the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight during the last two legislative sessions and received significant support from those who testified at a legislative hearing earlier this year.
“Indigenous communities and tribal nations in the commonwealth and across the United States call us to act,” Comerford said. “It is thanks to their courageous truth-telling that we recognize Columbus’ legacy of colonization as one not worthy of memorialization or celebration.”
According to Comerford, Massachusetts is one of just 15 states that only observes Columbus Day, while 35 states and U.S. territories recognize either Native American or Indigenous Peoples Day as standalone holidays or in conjunction with Columbus Day, or by moving away from the holiday altogether.
“Celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day is an act of respect, recognition and reconciliation,” Comerford said. “It honors the first stewards of this land — past, present and future. Christopher Columbus did not discover the Americas. That long-perpetuated myth — rooted in racism and violence — has allowed generations to credit a European man with discovering a land already teeming with societies.”
In 2021, President Joe Biden became the first U.S. president to formally recognize Indigenous Peoples Day, though President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation for Columbus Day and said he would be honoring the explorer at the federal level.
In a phone interview Thursday, Comerford said the status of both the Indigenous Peoples Day bill, as well as another she has filed that would prohibit schools from using Native American mascots, comes as “really good news” on being able to right a series of historical wrongs that have affected Indigenous people.
“These Indigenous bills are important to me, because it’s important to my constituents,” Comerford said.
And even though local communities have taken it upon themselves to rename the day and use mascots that won’t offend, Comerford said “civil rights and racial justice should be the purview of the state.”
The mascot legislation also is advancing to the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, where it could become law as it has in many other states
Comerford praises Gov. Maura Healey for issuing an executive order forming the Massachusetts Seal, Flag and Motto Advisory Commission to address what is viewed as a problematic depiction of an Indigenous man holding a bow and arrow.
“Her team is taking this very seriously,” Comerford said.
Comerford recently called out two of the GOP candidates who are campaigning for governor in 2026 and have been critical of the efforts to make Massachusetts a more just and inclusive state through a new flag, seal and motto.
“GOP gubernatorial candidates Brian Shortsleeve and Mike Kennealy have locked themselves in the past by proclaiming their opposition to progress — even when that progress will right historic wrongs,” Comerford said. “They are telling us that as governor, they would only represent some commonwealth residents. I do not share their adherence to a fossilized, broken status quo. Symbols have weight. They have meaning. They have power.”
Comerford explained the importance of addressing this topic.
“I found their comments disrespectful of the people on the commission, many of whom are Native American leaders,” Comerford said, observing that Colrain resident Rhonda Anderson, who is Iñupiaq Athabaskan, is one of those participating.
“What they have said felt like an old version of our commonwealth, our history, a legacy of colonization and genocide, rather than wanting a new flag, a new motto, that would accurately convey a place we want to live in,” Comerford said.