India, Oct. 13 -- Seventeen states - plus Washington, D.C. - now mark Indigenous Peoples' Day instead of, or alongside, Columbus Day. Indigenous groups started pushing for it back in the 1970s. The goal was simple: stop glorifying colonization and start recognizing Native history, survival, and culture.

It took years, but it stuck. The idea grew from local observances to national attention. By 2021, President Joe Biden made it official with a presidential proclamation - the first time a US president formally recognized Indigenous Peoples' Day, the Associated Press noted.

Across the country, the day looks different depending on where you are. Some towns host powwows. Others hold school programs or art exhibitions. The tone swings between...