By HOI ABC

BLOOMINGTON – The City of Bloomington will recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day as a way to educate the community about the plight of Native Americans following a unanimous city council vote Monday night.

However, council members were divided, voting 5-4 to also petition state, federal and other local governments to replace Columbus Day, and instead honor indigenous people on the second Monday of October, according to our news partner HOI ABC.

Council members Joni Painter, Donna Boelen, Kimberly Bray, and Mboka Mwilambwe all voted against the motion to lobby other governments to make the change.

Mwilambwe, who’s running for mayor, said elected leaders and the public need more information about the proposal.

“It starts to feel like it’s more opinion as opposed to something that has a solid foundation,” Mwilambwe said.

Council member Jenn Carrillo introduced the measures, and garnered a slim majority just as she did a week ago when the council decided to move forward on a “welcoming cities” resolution to protect undocumented immigrants.

“This should not be an issue that is that controversial, and that it is I think signals how much progress needs to be made in this community,” said Carrillo.

All council members were in agreement to have the city’s human relations commission join with other community organizations to plan an annual Indigenous Peoples’ Day observance, similar to plans the city has to celebrate Juneteenth.