Legislature OKs Indigenous Peoples Day bill

By Yvonne Gonzalez

Thursday, May 11, 2017 | 2:21 p.m.

A bill that authorizes and requests the governor annually to issue a proclamation designating Aug. 9 as Indigenous Peoples Day in Nevada is headed for the governor’s office after receiving unanimous support in the Legislature.

Senate Bill 105 originally sought to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day, but the amended version does not. The Assembly unanimously approved the bill Thursday so that the Senate can send it to Gov. Brian Sandoval for his signature.

The bill was amended to leave the state’s Columbus Day statute alone before the Senate gave the new version unanimous approval on April 21.

Indigenous Peoples Day in Nevada on Aug. 9 would coincide with the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples observed by the United Nations.

Governors don’t actually have to declare the days under state law. During a February committee hearing on the original bill, Sen. David Parks, D-Las Vegas, pointed out that the last time Nevada celebrated Christopher Columbus was 25 years ago, in 1992.

Sen. Tick Segerblom, D-Las Vegas, sponsored the measure and said he hopes the governor “will declare it, and then schools would focus on learning about our history.”