Maine has officially renamed Columbus Day "Indigenous Peoples Day."
Gov. Janet Mills signed a bill Friday morning changing the designation. Mills says history has been written in a way that doesn’t tell the state's full story, but she says changing symbols can help to repair those mistakes.
"With this bill, let us continue to heal the divisions of our past and bring the state of Maine's tribal communities together with the state to build a future shaped by mutual respect and trust," she says.
Mills' office has taken several steps over the past few months to strengthen relations with the state's tribes, including the appointment of a senior advisor on tribal affairs. Mills says she is also working to nominate members to fill vacant positions on the Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission.
A number of other states, including New Mexico and Vermont, have recently replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day.
