Rep. Scott Staffanson, R-Sidney, also spoke in support of the bill. He said humans are sinners and need to fight hate in their hearts. He also called Columbus a secular saint who has no right to sainthood.

“We will hate Indians in part because that is our human nature,” Staffason said. “We have to fight that. We need to get past this. We need to come together. I wish we quit this divisiveness and move on. I think this is a good step.”

Speaking against the bill, Rep. Forrest Mandeville, R-Columbus, said his town's identity is tied to Columbus Day.

“Growing up, Columbus Day was more of a community day, a community pride day, where we looked at our community’s history,” Madeville said. Columbus was originally called Sheep Dip, then Stillwater. Its name was changed to avoid confusion with another Stillwater in a different state on the same railroad line.

Mandeville said nothing in state law mandates that a holiday must be celebrated in a certain way, and that communities are free to celebrate Columbus Day however they see fit.

Rep. Amanda Curtis, D-Butte, countered, saying the bill would change the section of state law that dictates what holidays must be recognized in the public school system.

The town of Bozeman in March 2016 designated the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples' Day after a proclamation by the mayor.

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