Nevada lawmaker moves to put Indigenous Peoples' Day on Columbus Day
Well, that's awkward.
Nevada law says it falls on Aug. 9, but Democratic Assem. Shea Backus is trying to change that with Assembly Bill 144 (AB144), which would set the observation on the second Monday in October.
It's not merely that Nevada law doesn't follow nationwide observance of the day. Backus, who represents District 37 in the northwest Las Vegas valley, found last year that her bank is also not marking the day on Aug. 9. Signs on the door said the bank was observing the holiday on the same day as Columbus Day.
As it turns out, that's the biggest reason behind opposition to AB144.
'I don't oppose an Indigenous Peoples' Day, but when you put it on Columbus Day, you essentially erase Columbus Day,' Janine Hansen, leader of Nevada Families for Freedom, said. Hansen is a frequent candidate for public office in Nevada.
Both sides carefully stepped around any suggestion that the conflict in holidays has a greater meaning as the bill was presented to the Assembly Committee on Government Affairs Tuesday in Carson City.
'Indigenous Peoples' Day isn't just about a day of recognition, it's about placing indigenous voices at the forefront of decisions that shape the future of the state,' Backus said in presenting the bill. 'It is this deep cultural connection that has shaped the character of the state of Nevada and should be celebrated.' Backus said she is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation.
On 'Nevada Tribes Legislative Day' Tuesday, speakers lined up in support of AB144. Members of at least four tribes spoke in favor of the bill.
'Our history exists whether or not it's in your textbooks. Our contributions have shaped this state long before Nevada was even a name on a map,' Mathilda Guerrero Miller said, representing the Native Voters Alliance of Nevada.
In addition to 20 federally recognized tribes in Nevada comprising 28 bands and colonies, Backus pointed out that there are more than 60,000 'urban indians' who call Nevada home.
Testimony in support of the bill included Make the Road Nevada, UNLV and members of Walker River Paiute Tribe.
Now that AB144 has had a hearing, it can be considered by the Assembly. If it passes there, it would go to the Senate for approval.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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