Forum News Service
BRAINERD, Minn. -- The Brainerd City Council is considering changing the name of Columbus Day to honor Native Americans.
At Tuesday’s meeting, the council tabled the idea of changing Columbus Day to Native Peoples' Day or to a combination of Columbus Day/Native Peoples' Day. It will be brought back at the next meeting.
City Council member Chip Borkenhagen brought forward the idea of Native Peoples' Day, following decisions in cities such as Red Wing and Minneapolis, which made similar changes.
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The Minneapolis City Council voted this year to use Indigenous Peoples Day on all city communications, although it will continue to recognize Columbus Day for legal purposes.
Red Wing decided to rename the holiday Chief Red Wing Day.
In Bemidji, Shared Vision, also known as the Bemidji Area Race Relations Council, discussed in May the idea of changing the day to Indigenous Peoples Day, but no formal actions have been taken by the Bemidji City Council.
