MONTPELIER, VT (1010 WINS) -- When Columbus Day rolls around next October, it likely won't be celebrated in Maine or Vermont.
They've voted to observe 'Indigenous Peoples Day' instead.
"It's time to stop celebrating a man whose arrival brought death, disease and slavery to hundreds of thousands, and start honoring the people who lived here long before." ACLU of Maine Advocacy Director Oami Amarasingham said.
Vermont's bill was introduced by Rep. Debbie Ingram.
"Vermont was founded and built upon lands whose original inhabitants were the Abenaki people and honors them and their ancestors," Vermont's bill says. "The establishment of this holiday will aid in the cultural development of Vermont's recognized tribes, while enabling all indigenous peoples in Vermont and elsewhere to move forward and formulate positive outcomes, from the history of colonization."
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All that's needed to make the change into a law are the signatures of their respective governors.
Alaska, Minnesota, and Oregon had already made the change, and New Mexico is joining them as well.
In South Dakota, they've been marking 'Native American Day' since 1990.
A number of cities have also opted out of honoring Columbus including Los Angeles, Phoenix, Seattle, Denver, and San Francisco.
