[R-G] Chavez changes 'Columbus Day' to 'The Day of Indigenous Resistance'

[ProletarianNews]

AP. 12 October 2002. President Hugo Chavez changes name of national
holiday by decree.

CARACAS -- President Hugo Chavez signed a decree Saturday changing the
name of Venezuela's "Columbus Day" to "The Day of Indigenous Resistance"
in honor of the nation's indigenous groups. 

"This is a historical decree," said Chavez, speaking during his weekly
radio program "Hello President." 

"From now on, today will be known as 'The Day of Indigenous Resistance.'
We're honoring the indigenous struggle," added the left-leaning
Venezuelan leader. 

Wearing traditional brightly colored dresses adorned with feathers and
beads, representatives of local indigenous communities gathered outside
the presidential office to applaud the decree. 

Activists had requested that the holiday's name be changed. 

There are approximately 350,000 indigenous peoples from 28 distinct
ethnic groups in this South American country of 24 million. Most
Venezuelans are considered to be "meztizo," a mix of Spanish, African,
and native indigenous bloodlines. 

Since taking office in 1999, left-leaning Chavez has gained considerable
backing from indigenous communities. 

Through a new constitution pushed through by his political allies,
Chavez paved the way for the demarcation of "indigenous habitats" and
gave them representation in the legislature.

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ProletarianNews
http://www.utopia2000.org

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