The city of Columbus no longer celebrates "Columbus Day" and has removed all Christopher Columbus statues, however there's a movement to return one. Instead, as of 2020, the day is referred to as "indigenous People's Day" -- something the Free Press and many local activists had been demanding for decades. 

In honor of this day, here is a poem by longtime local activist Michael Eckhardt, from his recently published book, Navigation: In these uncertain times. You can purchase the book from the Free Press here. 

dance with destiny

tall ships danced

across the water

the course of history

about to change

fence rows appear

each post a stake

in mother earth's breast

church and state combine

to commit acts of genocide

manifest destiny continues

proud indigenous peoples

deceived and displaced

environmental harmony

replaced by greed

just a spark remains

steeped in tradition

a pride and respect

too strong to overcome

hopefully these thoughts

can dance across the imaginations

of those who will shape

the new world.