Los Angeles just became the latest city to adopt Indigenous Peoples Day in favor of Columbus Day. The holiday has been gaining support across the country as Seattle, Minneapolis and Berkeley, Calif. have already made the alternative to Columbus Day official.

Here’s everything you need to know about Indigenous Peoples Day, how it’s different from Columbus Day and why more cities are celebrating it.

What is Indigenous Peoples Day?

Indigenous Peoples Day celebrates Native Americans and challenges the idea that Christopher Columbus “discovered” America. Berkeley was the first city, and South Dakota the first state, in the United States to recognize the holiday in 1992.

The idea of a Columbus Day alternative actually traces back to the 1970s, and the United Nations declared August 9 as International Day of the World’s Indigenous People in 1994.

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