UF students, professor discuss changing Columbus Day

A general council representative from the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma drove to UF to talk to students Monday about Indigenous People’s Day — and why it should replace Columbus Day.

David Narcomey, a member of the Seminole Nation who served in the tribe’s legislative branch, spoke to about 10 students in McCarty Hall about indigenous people’s civil rights and culture.

Narcomey said indigenous people have always been in America, so events like Columbus Day, which celebrate Christopher Columbus “discovering” the Americas, are inaccurate. While multiple counties and cities across the U.S. have switched to celebrating Indigenous People’s Day, he said he would like the federal government to address the change.

He said Americans shouldn’t celebrate Columbus, whose appearance drastically hurt the Taíno people he encountered.

“(Columbus) was an arbitrator of murder, slavery and perpetuated genocide against the indigenous people of that area,” Narcomey said. “To celebrate somebody of that stature and that background just seems incomprehensible.”

Narcomey said UF Professor Robin Wright invited him to speak at the university. Wright, who teaches a class called Indigenous Religious Traditions, said it’s important to address the holiday.

“There’s no need for celebrating Columbus Day,” Wright said. “It’s like a memory, a very bad memory, for indigenous people.”

Derek Ajamian, 21, said the history of Columbus’ actions against indigenous people should be taught more.

“It’s wrong that they still teach us that,” the UF anthropology junior said. “And it should be fixed.”