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What should we call October 8th?

Celebrations were held around town Monday to celebrate both Indigenous People and Christopher Columbus, on what has up until recently been traditionally know as Columbus Day.

To kick off Rochester's First "official" Indigenous Peoples Day celebration, Ronald Garrow, who is Akwasasne and Mohawk, told the story of the peacemaker's journey, on the shore of Lake Ontario.

"And right here where were standing is the spot where the peacemaker landed, he came from right over there across the lake and landed right here in present day Rochester, New York. And this is where the journey began."

Garrow hopes the city's declaration of Indigenous People's Day will encourage a less colonized version of history to be taught in schools.

"I don’t think it’s important to take away the positive contributions that the man made, but I would just like to see more fair and view of the entire history told."

Across town Rochester Italians were filing into the Diplomat Banquet Center on Lyell Avenue to continue their tradition of celebrating Columbus and his Italian Heritage.

Filomena Sarat is the President of the Italian Women's Association. Shesays she is happy to honor indigenous people, but thinks if they each had a separate day it would be best for both communities.

"The Italian people are very traditional oriented, and we want to make sure that we uphold those traditions so we join together whenever we have the opportunity, to celebrate something that is positive in our nationality."

But not all Italians agree, according to Kathy Castania who helped put on the morning event on the beach.

"Unfortunately our media thinks there’s only one perspective. And they keep giving you that perspective. So those of us that are Italian American are raising our voices with multiple perspectives, and that’s our goal this year as well."

Castania says while the city proclamation is a step forward, more work needs to be done. The city is technically still recognizing Columbus Day along side Indigenous Peoples Day, and Castania says they hope that will change by next year.