President Joe Biden declared October 11 Indigenous Peoples' Day.
Biden acknowledged that European explorers had hurt Native Americans in a Columbus Day proclamation.
Friday's action by the Biden administration saw two Utah national monuments restored to protection.
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After years of Native Americans' campaigning for federal recognition, President Joe Biden declared the first Presidential Proclamation of Indigenous Peoples’ Day. It was to be observed on October 11, in honor America's original inhabitants.
Biden released a White House proclamation stating that "American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians have created vibrant and diverse cultures protecting land, language and spirit across the generations"
While Indigenous Peoples Day will be observed on the same day as Columbus Day on October 1, Biden acknowledged that European explorers had committed atrocities against Indigenous communities in another proclamation. He urged the nation to not try to forget "shameful incidents of our past."
Biden's White House proclamation stated that "for Native Americans, west exploration ushered into a wave of destruction: violence perpetrated towards Native communities, displacement, theft of Tribal homelands and the spread and spread of diseases, and more." We recognize the past and commit ourselves to investing in Native communities.
Biden also announced Friday his administration would restore protections to the Bears Ears, Grand Staircase–Escalante national monuments of Utah and two New England monuments.
Biden stated Friday that "This may have been the easiest thing I've done so far as President" during a speech outside of the White House.
Indian Country Today reported that former President Donald Trump had previously lifted protections on thousands of acres spread across the four monuments. This opened them up for mining and commercial fishing.
"Today's announcement is not about national monuments. It's about this administration focusing the voices of Indigenous peoples and affirming the shared responsibility of this landscape with tribe nations," stated Secretary of Interior Deb Haaland. She is a citizen from the Laguna Pueblo nation.
