President Franklin D. Roosevelt first declared Columbus Day as a national holiday in 1937, honoring the 1492 arrival of Italian explorer Christopher Columbus in the Americas.

Over time, however, the role Columbus played in the New World became more controversial and, in 2021, President Joe Biden declared the second Monday in October – the traditional day of Columbus Day – would also be known as Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

“Since time immemorial, American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians have built vibrant and diverse cultures — safeguarding land, language, spirit, knowledge, and tradition across the generations.  On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, our Nation celebrates the invaluable contributions and resilience of Indigenous peoples, recognizes their inherent sovereignty, and commits to honoring the Federal Government’s trust and treaty obligations to Tribal Nations,” the White House said in a statement.

In Alabama, the day is also American Indian Heritage Day and Fraternal Day.

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American Indian Heritage Day

Alabama, home to nine recognized tribal governments, first celebrated American Indian Heritage Day in 2000.

“Many Alabamians are of American Indian heritage and have contributed immeasurably to the state’s unique diversity through their culture and traditions,” Gov. Kay Ivey said in a statement. “Alabama wishes to honor (its) indigenous people, their contributions to their homelands and their passion in keeping American Indian culture and history a vibrant part of Alabama’s life.”

The nine recognized tribal governments in the state are: Poarch Band of Creek Indians, the Echota Cherokee Tribe of Alabama, the Cherokee Tribe of Northeast Alabama, the Ma-Chis Lower Creek Indian Tribe of Alabama, the Star Clan of Muscogee Creeks, the Cher-O-Creek Intra Tribal Indians, the MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians, the Piqua Shawnee Tribe, and the United Cherokee Ani-Yun-Wiya Nation. Of this group, only the Poarch Band of Creeks is officially recognized by the federal government, according to the Encyclopedia of Alabama.

Fraternal Day

Fraternal Day as an official holiday is unique to Alabama. It traces its roots to 1915 when it was celebrated in San Francisco though later efforts to make it a national holiday failed.

Alabama continues to mark the day as an official holiday.

It is meant as a time to honor the work of fraternal organizations and the Alabama Legislature moved to coincide with the Columbus holiday. The holiday focused not just on traditional fraternal organizations, such as the Masons, but also on veterans’ groups and other clubs.