By KayLynn Harris
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A day many relate to discovery is a time others relate to a great loss of life.

The University of Iowa Native American Student Association held a demonstration Monday, which was Columbus Day, on the Pentacrest to raise awareness about indigenous peoples.

Members of the group passed out fliers encouraging people to celebrate Indigenous People’s Day as opposed to Columbus Day.

Columbus Day honors Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the Americas in the 15th century, but the holiday has come into question given the discrimination, land grabs, forced removals, and widespread violence and death that followed European colonization.

“There is a lot of death associated with Columbus that people forget about,” said Native American Student Association member Cristina Perez. “We want people to understand that natives were prosperous people and had a deep, rich culture before Columbus.”

This movement is one among many across the country to change the way the holiday is celebrated. Alaska recently renamed Columbus Day Indigenous Peoples Day, and Denver voted to follow Alaska’s lead.

The demonstration is just one of many events the Native American Student Association uses in order to raise awareness about natives and indigenous people. The organization often participated in the Celebrating Cultural Diversity Festival before it ended, and it holds a spring Powwow.

“Columbus is responsible for the genocide of millions of natives,” Perez said. “We shouldn’t celebrate him but more so remember those who died as a result, and that is what Indigenous People’s Day does.”

Native Americans make up fewer than 1 percent of the UI’s student population, with just roughly 50 identifying students in the fall 2014 semester — under half the number in 2010. Due to such underrepresentation on campus, association members expressed frustrations surrounding awareness efforts.

“We try to spread awareness about indigenous culture as much as possible. You don’t have to be Native American to learn about them,” said Xiomara Santana, a member of the association. “When people become more educated about natives, they become less likely to appropriate or disrespect their culture.”