Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples' Day? What it means in Pittsburgh

Since 1971, the second Monday in October has been known federally as Columbus Day — a celebration of Italian American heritage and perseverance.

Government workers take the day off, retailers advertise big-ticket discounts and school children learn about Christopher Columbus, the Italian explorer credited with bringing news of the American continent back to Europe.

But across the U.S., and in Pittsburgh, the day is taking on a new shape. In the last decade, cities and states have been increasingly using the same date to honor Indigenous Peoples’ Day, reframing what the day represents and who it uplifts.

While that shift has been praised by Native American advocates who view it as long overdue, it has also drawn pushback from Italian American organizations that see Columbus Day as cen