Milwaukee County joins nearly two dozen U.S. communities in a growing national trend to recognize Indigenous Peoples Day on the same date each year as Columbus Day. "I'm incredibly proud that Milwaukee County is officially recognizing and appreciating the contributions of native thought, culture, and technology in our society," County Executive Chris Abele said Monday in proclaiming the day as Indigenous Peoples Day.

The County Board last December approved an annual recognition of "the powerful cultures and unique languages" of 11 native tribes in Wisconsin on the second Monday of October. Though the board placed the commemoration on the same date each year as Columbus Day, it did not renounce the Italian explorer.