DALLAS (1080 KRLD) - Dallas will join other cities, counties and states in shifting "Columbus Day" to "Indigenous Peoples' Day."
The measure was on the Dallas City Council's agenda Tuesday.
Dallas says 130 other city governments have adopted the change, including Austin and Denver, Colorado. Six states have made the change.
"Columbus never stepped foot in Texas, but every square foot of Texas land has been crossed by my ancestors," says Leroy Pena, of the Lipan Apache Tribe and national director of the Red Handed Warrior Society.
Pena says the change can help show people the history behind the land where they live and work.
"The land city hall sits on was part of an encampment," he says. "Being in close proximity to the Trinity River, that's where the bison would gather to drink water."
Pena says Sam Houston camped out in the Pleasant Grove area with a Native American delegation, and tribes fought with Texans at the Alamo.
"We all have that Texan pride, and we all want to honor our history," he says. "We are the oldest part of that history."
The Dallas City Council delayed a vote Tuesday morning. Members said they wanted all references to Columbus removed from the proclamation.