As has been the custom since Columbus Day became a federal holiday, people in the United States today will hold events, virtually or in person, commemorating Italian explorer Christopher Columbus’s voyage to the Americas in 1492. But as the explorer’s legacy has increasingly been called into question, individuals, communities, and institutions across the country have attempted to reframe the day in honor of the history and heritage of Indigenous Americans.
Northeastern University announced last week that it will no longer observe the second Monday in October as Columbus Day, preferring instead to recognize the holiday as Indigenous Peoples Day.
David Madigan, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, and Ellen Cushman, associate dean of academic affairs, diversity and inclusion in Northeastern’s College of Social Sciences and Humanities, will host a virtual panel discussion to mark the new name.
