While 17 states and dozens of cities recognize the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples Day, Montana — home to 12 tribes and seven reservations — is not among them.
While members of Montana's American Indian Caucus have proposed several pieces of legislation to recognize the day, the bills have consistently drawn intense opposition and failed.
Stephen Small Salmon, center, leads the Grand Entry at the Second Annual Beartracks Celebration Powwow at Caras Park on Oct. 9, 2023, in celebration of Indigenous Peoples Day.
In 2019 then-Rep. Shane Morigeau proposed legislation to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day. It failed. In 2021, as a state senator, Morigeau, a citizen of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, brought similar legislation again. His colleague, Sen. Susan Webber, D-Browning, introduced a related bill. Both efforts failed.
Morigeau and other supporters have argued for years that establishing Indigenous Peoples Day encourages non-Natives in the state to learn about, respect and celebrate their Native American neighbors. American Indian Caucus leaders have said the day is especially meaningful for Native youth. Recognizing Indigenous Peoples Day, they say, spurs young people to learn about their identity, embrace their culture and celebrate their community. By contrast, caucus members argue that observing Columbus Day can be harmful as it honors Christopher Columbus, who murdered and raped Indigenous people.
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Last legislative session, the Indigenous Peoples Day debate was at its most contentious. When introducing the bill, Morigeau spoke about Columbus, saying he raped, enslaved and brutally murdered Indigenous people.
“Is this someone worthy of celebrating?” he asked his colleagues.
Later, when the bill was considered on the Senate floor, several Republican lawmakers said they would not support the bill, blaming Morigeau’s graphic descriptions.
Sen. Dan Salomon, R-Ronan, criticized Morigeau for “killing his own bill,” saying “I have never in my experience been so mad” in reference to Morigeau’s recounting of Columbus' actions.
Morigeau countered, “I was trying to merely talk about facts.”
Webber, who is Blackfeet, said the opposition in 2023 reflects “where Montana is at with all of this.”
“They still refuse to acknowledge the Indigenous population and what was done to (us),” she said in an interview Thursday. “They think it’s all just a story, that it’s made up. But we went through it. … We’re trying to say, ‘Hey, we can’t do this anymore. Let’s have truth in our history.’ It’s not woke — it’s just the truth!”
This dynamic is not new for Webber, who recently held an event in Fort Shaw to honor Indian boarding school survivors. As Indigenous leaders spoke of the horrors and lasting consequences of assimilationist boarding schools, others in attendance took issue with what was shared.
"Some people want to rewrite (history)," Webber told Lee Montana in August.
What now?
Dan Jackson, commander of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Veteran Warrior Society, flies colors during the Grand Entry of the Second Annual Beartracks Celebration Powwow in celebration of Indigenous Peoples Day at Caras Park, on Oct. 9, 2023. The community celebration was hosted by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and commemorated the renaming and dedication of the Beartracks Bridge, named in honor of Sx͏ʷ͏úytis Smx̣e and the Vanderburg family.
Morigeau plans to bring legislation recognizing Indigenous Peoples Day to the Legislature again this coming session.
He’s not sure if it will pass, but he finds some comfort in knowing that people and tribes celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day all over the state — regardless of its official status.
The cities of Bozeman, Missoula, Helena, Harlem, Livingston and Hays, he said, all officially recognize Indigenous Peoples Day. And this Oct. 14, there will be celebrations statewide, including in Billings, Great Falls, Missoula and Bozeman. Morigeau plans to travel to Bozeman on Monday for a gathering with speakers. Webber will head to Browning High School to take part in festivities with students and teachers.
“People are clearly excited about it,” Morigeau said. “They understand it and celebrate it. And honestly, how many Columbus celebrations have you been to? How many have you ever seen?”
Indigenous Peoples Day events in Montana on Monday, Oct. 14:
Bozeman: 5 to 7 p.m. speakers at Peet’s Hill.
Great Falls: 3 to 7 p.m. speakers, food, entertainment at Great Falls College’s Heritage Hall.
Billings: 10 a.m. speakers at Boothill Cemetery, noon at Big Horn Resort for free lunch, speakers, live music and a comedy show, beginning at 6 p.m.
Missoula: 1 p.m. Beartracks Celebration Powwow at Caras Park.
Butte: 11 a.m. at the Silver Bow Courthouse celebration with Indian tacos.
Visit IndigenousPeoplesDayMontana.org for more information on events.
