Denver City Council Passes Indigenous Peoples’ Day Proclamation

Denver officials have agreed to join other cities across the nation in observing Indigenous Peoples' Day on Columbus Day.

The Denver Post reports that the City Council on Monday agreed unanimously to proclaim Oct. 12 as Indigenous Peoples' Day.

According to the proclamation, Indigenous Peoples' Day was first proposed in 1977 during a United Nations conference attended by a delegation of Native nations. It states that Denver will continue to "promote racial equity" and "oppose discrimination toward indigenous peoples."

The proclamation says Colorado is the ancestral homeland of 48 tribes, and the Denver metro area is home to descendants of about 100 tribal nations.