Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – The second Monday of October is, depending on where you are, Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples Day.

The Springfield city council has turned back at least two formal attempts to declare an Indigenous Peoples Day, a subject two public commenters brought up at Tuesday’s city council meeting.

“City council has voted against Indigenous Peoples Day twice,” said Sarah Al, adding that at a recent meeting,” Ald. Brad Carlson attempted to suppress an indigenous speaker who was invited to speak by Ald. Jennifer Notariano.”

Said Maribel Cruz Hine, “What is it to be indigenous? Of, relating to, or descending from the earliest known inhabitants of a place, and especially a place that was colonized. It was first used in English in the 17th Century to refer to individuals who originated from a particular region or territory.”

Nevertheless, it’s not a city holiday.