On 14th of October 2024, the United States once again observed both Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples Day on the second Monday of October, reflecting the ongoing debate between honoring Columbus and acknowledging the Indigenous peoples’ experiences of colonization. While some still celebrate Columbus for his historical role, Indigenous Peoples Day serves to highlight the violent impact of European settlement on Native communities, offering a more critical perspective on American history.

A dark chapter of this history is the widespread practice of scalping, which is often wrongly portrayed in popular culture as a uniquely Native American custom. In reality, European settlers institutionalized scalping through scalp bounties, paying for the scalps of Indigenous men, women, and even children. Colonial authorities, such as Massachusetts Governor Spencer Phips in 1755, issued proclamations offering monetary rewards for the scalps of Indigenous people as a way to encourage violence against Native communities. This practice extended through the 17th to the 19th centuries, particularly in New England and California, where it was used to facilitate land seizures and the extermination of Native populations.

The effects of this violent history are still visible today, with town names like Spencer, Massachusetts, hiding their association with those who profited from scalp bounties. In places like California, however, there has been some acknowledgment of these past atrocities, with the state establishing a Truth and Healing Council in 2019 to address the historical wrongs committed against Native peoples.

Indigenous Peoples Day serves not only to recognize these injustices but also to honor the resilience and survival of Native communities in the face of centuries of violence. The dual observance of Columbus Day alongside Indigenous Peoples Day highlights the tension between glorifying a colonial past and acknowledging the realities of genocide and displacement. This theme of resistance resonates beyond the Americas, as modern-day activists like Claudia de la Cruz draw parallels between Indigenous struggles and global fights against imperialism, such as the Palestinian resistance to occupation. This historical and modern-day struggle calls for greater awareness and political maturity in confronting the legacy of colonialism.