Christopher Columbus has traditionally been cast as a hero in American history. He has a national holiday dedicated to his memory and accomplishments.
But today, the Native American Student Union and Native American community are sponsoring the Anti-Columbus Awareness Day to present their message that Columbus is not the hero that history has traditionally presented him to be.
“We want people to understand that Columbus isn’t an American hero. It is time to take a stand and get the message out that what happened to us was indeed a holocaust,” said Zelda Harow, co-director for the NASU.
The main goal with the event is to raise awareness of issues that are still affecting Native Americans today, as well as present to the public their version of what Columbus did to the Native Americans.
Cindy Solberg, a kindergarten teacher at Awbrey Park Elementary School, said she doesn’t necessarily teach that Columbus was a hero, but rather, was a famous explorer who faced extreme obstacles in discovering America. She teaches her students why American history honors him on Columbus Day, and what the word “explorer” is and how it contributes to our history.
“The books I use to teach the subject say the Native [Americans] were friendly to him,” Solberg said. “I would assume the children got the impression he was a good man.”
NASU representatives said they feel Americans celebrate Columbus Day with blinders on, assuming Columbus was a good man. Annelia Norris, a member of NASU, said it is a slap in the face that the government still celebrates this day. She said she feels it is an insult to Native Americans.
“This event [the Anti-Columbus Awareness Day] gives us the feeling that we do have a voice,” Norris said. “We want to set an example for future generations to keep fighting and not let our culture die.”