New Native American holiday established

The second Monday in October will be celebrated as Indigenous Peoples’ Day and Columbus Day in Nebraska under a bill passed Aug. 11.

LB848, introduced by Lincoln Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks, adds Indigenous Peoples’ Day to the established Columbus Day holiday.

The bill includes provisions of Pansing Brooks’ LB849, which extend eligibility for the Bridge to Independence Program to Native American youth who have reached the age of majority under tribal law.

LB848 also includes provisions of Gordon Sen. Tom Brewer’s LB937. The provisions require the display of flags of Nebraska’s four federally recognized Native American tribes—the Omaha, Ponca, Santee Sioux and Winnebago—in the ceremonial Warner Chamber of the State Capitol.

Flags of any tribe with historic and regional connections to Nebraska will be displayed in the Memorial Chamber on the Capitol’s 14th floor.

Lawmakers passed LB848 on a 35-10 vote.