Texas Must Face Its Colonial Past: The Case for Indigenous People's Day

Why it’s past time for the Texas government to acknowledge its colonial history and support Indigenous sovereignty.

Christopher Columbus perpetrated a genocide of the Arawak people. Yet, no matter how often they are confronted with this information, every year on this day, you can count on Texas Republicans to post a meme on Facebook, wishing their followers a “Happy Columbus Day.” For Indigenous peoples, it’s a slap in the face and a painful reminder of the violence, displacement, and genocide that followed Columbus’ “discovery of the new world.”

Of course, like so many other parts of American history, we were all lied to in grade school about Columbus and the origins of America. “In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue.” But he didn’t discover America. He landed in the Bahamas, a land already inhabited by the Arawak people. And he wasn’t a hero. He was a monster.

Further reading:

• American Heritage: Columbus and Genocide

• Minnesota Women’s Press: Columbus and Sex Trafficking

• Irish Central: Columbus was a mass killer and the father of the slave trade

Columbus’ voyage to the Bahamas not only resulted in a genocide but also kicked off the Age of Exploration. This period saw Spain, Portugal, Britain, France, and others aggressively seeking new lands, establishing colonies, and exploiting Indigenous peoples and resources. European countries began to conquer lands across the Atlantic, which created the blueprint for future colonization in Africa and Asia. The exploitation of the Americas for resources, wealth, and labor (including the transatlantic slave trade) became a key feature of modern imperialism. Yet, every year on this day, you can count on Texas Republicans to post a meme on Facebook, wishing their followers a “Happy Columbus Day.”

Columbus Day represents a sanitized version of colonial history, glorifying exploration while ignoring the devastation it brought to Indigenous peoples. This feeds into a larger narrative that downplays colonization, enslavement, and genocide in favor of a heroic myth.

Joe Biden was the first president to issue a proclamation marking Indigenous Peoples Day.

In 2021, Biden’s first year in office, he issued the proclamation and has proclaimed Indigenous Peoples Day on the second Monday of every October since, including this year. However, Indigenous Peoples Day has still not replaced Columbus Day as a federal holiday.

The guy who said, “Immigrants are poisoning the blood of America,” also has an opinion on Indigenous Peoples Day:

Indigenous People’s Day is a way to reclaim the narrative that has long erased Indigenous voices from the story of America. While Columbus Day glorifies colonization and the myths of “discovery,” Indigenous People’s Day honors the resilience, survival, and ongoing struggles of Native communities. It offers a counter-narrative that centers on Indigenous experiences, acknowledging centuries of oppression, land theft, genocide, and the erasure of entire cultures, all while celebrating their persistence and contributions to society today.

For Indigenous peoples, this day is about more than reflection. It’s about reclaiming their place in the history that has often been told without them. As Indigenous leaders have pointed out, this holiday is a necessary first step toward broader justice.

Further reading:

• Native Hope: Why Indigenous Peoples Day Matters

• PBS: 5 things to know about Indigenous Peoples Day

• NPR: Indigenous Peoples Day, as explained by Native Americans

It forces Americans to confront the reality of colonization while offering a path toward healing—through recognition, reparations, and a commitment to Indigenous sovereignty. Activists have long called for policies that address historical wrongs, from returning stolen lands to supporting cultural preservation and combating the issues facing Indigenous communities, like systemic poverty and environmental destruction.

In Texas, the Land Back movement is a push to reclaim lands that were historically taken from Indigenous peoples, going back as far as Spanish colonization.

The movement is rooted in the principle of returning lands to Indigenous stewardship and challenging the structures of colonialism that continue to exploit Indigenous peoples to this day.

Historically, Indigenous communities in Texas, such as the Comanche, Tonkawa, and Karankawa, were displaced from their lands by European powers, and later, the US government expanded its control over the region. This process continued into the modern era, as lands were seized for oil exploration, ranching, and urban development. The Land Back movement advocates for the return of lands to Indigenous nations, especially as these lands hold deep cultural, spiritual, and environmental significance.

In Texas, efforts toward land reclamation have taken various forms, with groups like American Indians in Texas working to reclaim spaces for Indigenous use. They recently purchased a new campus near downtown San Antonio, an effort that took over two decades.

Indigenous peoples have sustainable relationships with the land, managing ecosystems in ways that modern conservation efforts are only beginning to recognize. Research shows that lands managed by Indigenous communities are better protected than those managed by federal or state governments. Indigenous leaders are pushing for a return to traditional land stewardship as a form of justice and a necessary step in addressing environmental degradation and climate change.

These ongoing efforts show that, even in a state as large and urbanized as Texas, the Land Back movement is gaining momentum. It connects historical injustices with contemporary fights for land, environmental justice, and Indigenous sovereignty.

Honoring Indigenous history and challenging colonial myths in Texas

We have to confront the myths surrounding Columbus Day and the erasure of Indigenous history in Texas. Change is long overdue. We must honor the rich histories of the Comanche, Tonkawa, Karankawa, and all Indigenous peoples of Texas—stories that have been deliberately left out of our textbooks and public memory. The truth is, this land was never “discovered.” It was stolen, and its original stewards were displaced, exploited, and subjected to unimaginable violence.

Further reading:

• American Indian Genocide Museum: Genocide in Texas

• Michael Leroy Oberg: Let’s Mess With Texas

• Beaumont Enterprise: Schools should teach the history of Native American genocide

The fight to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous People’s Day is part of a broader movement for recognition and reparations. It’s a small but significant step toward dismantling the colonial narratives that continue to erase Indigenous peoples from the story of America. In Texas, where land and oil define our identity, supporting these movements is essential.

Educate yourself on the true history of Texas and its Indigenous peoples. Support Indigenous-led movements like Land Back. Advocate for education reform so future generations will learn the real stories—not the myths—about how this state and this country were built. Most importantly, stand with Indigenous communities in their fight for sovereignty and justice. The battle for Indigenous rights isn’t just about the past. It’s about creating a more just and equitable future for all.

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