Hide Transcript Show Transcript

WEBVTT P>> AND HAS BEEN A REALLY LONG PTIME COMING. P>> STILL A HOLIDAY, BUT WITH A PDIFFERENT FOCUS. P>> VERMONT HAS BUILT IN THIS DAY PIN WHICH IS CELEBRATED PINDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND I THINK PTHAT IS FANTASTIC. P>> CALLS FOR SWITCHING COLUMBUS PDAY TO INDIGENOUS PEOPLE'S DAY PARE HAPPENING IN MANY PLACES PACROSS THE COUNTRY. PWHILE SOME SUPPORT THE IDEA, POTHERS ARE UNSURE. P>> AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM OR PEVENTS THAT TAKE PLACE. PAN EXTENSION BEYOND JUST A NAME PCHANGE. P>> PVERMONT HAS HOPPED ON BOARD AT PLEAST FOR THIS YEAR. PON THURSDAY, GOVERNOR PETER PSHUMLIN DECLARED COLUMBUS DAY PINDIGENOUS PEOPLE'S DAY. P>> THESE PEOPLE LIVED HERE PBEFORE WE CAME FROM EUROPE. P>> ONE OF THE SELECT BOARD PMEMBERS SAID WE SHOULD HAVE A PDISCUSSION ABOUT COLUMBUS DAY IN PCONSIDERATION OF THE INDIGENOUS PPEOPLE. P>> HARTFORD TOWN MANAGER LEO PPULLAR SAYS THE PROPOSAL WAS PBROUGHT UP IN A MEETING BACK IN PAUGUST. PEVER SINCE THEN, HE'S BEEN DOING PHIS RESEARCH. P>> TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE PTHE AUTHORITIES REST FOR THE PTOWN TO TAKE ACTION. PAND LOOK AT ALL SIDES OF THE PISSUES AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO PTHE BOARD. P>> HE SAYS THE SELECT BOARD PWON'T VOTE ON THE IDEA FOR PMONTHS. PEVEN IF THEY GO FOR IT THE STATE PHAS FINAL APPROVAL. PPULLAR SAYS THE ISSUE IS PIMPORTANT TO MANY IN THE AREA. P ONE OF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES POF THIS AREA AND CULTURALLY, PHISTORICALLY, GREAT PCONTRIBUTIONS. P>> PULLAR SAYS HE'S STILL WANTS PMORE OF THE COMMUNITY'S INPUT PBEFORE A VOTE IS TAKEN. PIN HARTFORD, HELENA BATTIPAGLIA,

Get local stories sent straight to your inbox as news breaks.

Advertisement Vermont ditches Columbus Day for Indigenous Peoples' Day Governor signs proclamation changing traditional holiday Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Vermont has officially changed Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples' Day.Gov. Peter Shumlin signed an executive proclamation Thursday, making the change.Under the decree, Shumlin said a growing number of cities in towns in the United States have recognized the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples' Day.The day is "an opportunity to celebrate indigenous heritage and resiliency," the proclamation stated."I think it's been a really long time coming," White River Junction Cartoon Studies student Erienne McCray said. "Now Vermont has built in this day to celebrate indigenous peoples and i think that's fantastic.Vermont traditionally "recognizes the historic, cultural and contemporary significance of the Indigenous Peoples of the land that later became known as the Americas, including Vermont," Shumlin's decree stated."The State of Vermont recognizes that it was founded and is built upon lands first inhabited by the Indigenous Peoples of this region -- the Abenaki and their ancestors and allies -- and acknowledges and honors the members of the community, both past and present."Shumlin encouraged all Vermonters to celebrate the new holiday.The City of Hartford will vote on a resolution to recognize the holiday name change."One of the select board members said 'Hey, we should have a discussion aboutColumbus day in consideration of Indiginous people's day,'" Hartford Town Manager Leo Pullar said.Pullar said the Selectboard probably won't vote on the idea for months, and the state has final approval over the change. He said the issue is important to many in the area."The Abenaki, one of the indiginous peoples of this area...culturally, historically have given great contributions to this area," Pullar said.At least 1,700 members of the Nulhegan-Memphremagog tribe of the Abenaki still live in several areas of Vermont. The tribe has its own government and constitution.The push to change Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples' Day began in 1977. It has gained in popularity in recent years.Shumlin's proclamation is specific to only 2016. A spokesman for the governor said it could be issued yearly by the next governor, if he or she desired.The proclamation was requested by Rich Holschuh, who is a gubernatorial appointee to the Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs.South Dakota is the only other state to recognize Indigenous Peoples' Day.Vermont became the 14th state in 1791.