Two more states change Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples’ Day

What You Need to Know: Indigenous Peoples' Day

Vermont and Maine are getting rid of Columbus Day in favor of Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

Lawmakers in both of the New England states passed bills last week that are awaiting their governors' signatures to rename the October holiday, CNN reported.

Vermont's governor issued a proclamation in 2016 to rename the holiday, CBS News reported then, but the state House and Senate just passed the resolution this month.

Earlier this month, New Mexico's Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed the bill that changes Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples' Day.

>> Read more trending news

"This new holiday will mark a celebration of New Mexico's 23 sovereign indigenous nations and the essential place of honor native citizens hold in the fabric of our great state," Grisham said. She said the renaming of the holiday will be a reconciliation and a reminder of the state's history, CNN reported.

In addition to Maine, Vermont and New Mexico, Alaska, Minnesota and Oregon have also gotten rid of Columbus Day. South Dakota celebrates Native American Day. On a local level, Seattle, Los Angeles, Denver, Phoenix and San Francisco do not celebrate the holiday, according to CNN.

The list of cities also includes Columbus, Ohio, which  got rid of the holiday honoring its namesake in 2018, USA Today reported last year.