Creating Inclusive Spaces: Understanding the Connection Between Columbus Day and Mental Health — and Why Indigenous Peoples’ Day Is So Important
Reframing the Conversation Around Columbus Day
Every October, the arrival of Columbus Day invites reflection, discomfort, and discussion. For some, it’s a day of historical pride — a commemoration of exploration. For others, particularly Indigenous communities, it symbolizes centuries of colonization, displacement, and erasure. These conflicting narratives don’t just exist in textbooks; they live within the emotions, identities, and mental health of entire communities.
Recognizing the psychological impact of how we celebrate — or ignore — certain histories is essential. Cultural holidays shape belonging. When a national celebration centers one story while silencing others, it can trigger collective grief and intergenerational trauma for those whose ancestors bore the cost of that “discovery.”
The Mental Health Impact of Historical Narratives
History isn’t just about the past — it’s internalized in our nervous systems and identities. For Indigenous peoples and those connected to colonized histories, Columbus Day can surface deep feelings of pain, invalidation, and anger.
These reactions are not oversensitivity; they are trauma responses to centuries of marginalization.
When institutions continue to glorify Columbus without acknowledging the full truth, it reinforces systems of oppression that impact mental well-being. Many Indigenous individuals report increased distress, depression, and feelings of invisibility around this time of year — especially when community narratives are dismissed or tokenized.
Meanwhile, others may experience discomfort or guilt as they begin to confront historical truths. This tension creates an opportunity for growth: to move beyond defensiveness toward collective healing.
Why Indigenous Peoples’ Day Matters
Indigenous Peoples’ Day isn’t about erasing history — it’s about expanding it.
It honors resilience, culture, and survival in the face of colonization. It’s a day of remembrance and restoration — a reclaiming of visibility and voice.
Celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day affirms the lived experiences and wisdom of Native communities. It offers a corrective to the harm caused by centuries of misrepresentation, and it invites all of us to participate in truth-telling and solidarity.
From a mental health lens, this shift is powerful: it transforms a reminder of trauma into an act of resilience and belonging. Representation heals. Validation heals. Recognition heals.
Creating Inclusive Spaces for Collective Healing
To truly support mental health and inclusion, we must create environments — in schools, workplaces, and communities — that acknowledge and respect Indigenous narratives. This involves:
Education: Learn the true history of colonization and its ongoing impact on mental health and identity.
Language: Use accurate, inclusive terminology when discussing history and culture.
Representation: Amplify Indigenous voices in decision-making, leadership, and community events.
Commemoration: Celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day through art, storytelling, and cultural programming.
Reflection: Encourage dialogue about how cultural celebrations affect everyone’s sense of belonging and safety.
Inclusive spaces don’t happen by accident — they are intentionally built through awareness, compassion, and accountability.
Moving Toward Healing and Belonging
The stories we choose to honor shape our collective well-being. By replacing narratives of domination with those of resilience and respect, we foster mental wellness for all.
Recognizing Indigenous Peoples’ Day is not just about one community — it’s about acknowledging our shared humanity and the interconnection of all healing.
As we continue to unlearn and rebuild, may we hold space for both truth and tenderness. Healing begins when we listen — and when every person, every culture, is seen.
