I am writing to voice my concern over Indigenous People’s Day in Santa Barbara and California as a whole. I have concerns of the precedent the change from Columbus Day could set for future issues relating to Santa Barbara’s and California’s rich history and to all peoples who have come before us.
I grew up in Santa Barbara minus the many years I spent overseas protecting our beautiful country. I am a 13th generation Californiano (Santa Barbarian) with a bit of Chumash as well. My forefathers were Spanish soldiers who came with Father Junipero Serra on the Gaspar de Portolá y Rovira Expedition of 1769. The expedition built Missions and Presidios from San Diego to San Francisco to keep the territory from being claimed by foreign powers, namely England and Russia.
If the City of Santa Barbara adopts this new day, what might come next? Changing Columbus Day to Indigenous People’s Day could end up being a slippery slope that gets rid of things, such as those related to my family's accomplishments, here in Santa Barbara and in California as a whole. I hope this isn’t political correctness gone awry.