While the United States observed Columbus Day on Monday, New Mexican senators continued to push for Indigenous Peoples' Day as a national change. 

Even though most of the country continues to observe Oct. 11th as Columbus Day, New Mexico formally made the change from Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples' Day when legislation passed an official law back in 2019, according to KOB4.

“Originally I learned about Columbus Day in all my textbooks and in school and I didn’t really understand until I was an older adult the significance of, well Columbus didn't discover the Americas,” said Democratic New Mexico state Rep. Derrick Lente, who created the 2019 state bill meant to recognize Indigenous Peoples' Day, according to KOB4.

Now, as opinions surrounding the holiday continue to grow more divided, U.S. Sens. Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján hope to take the movement to a national level by making Indigenous Peoples' Day a federal holiday. Both senators released statements over the weekend in support of both the change and the indigenous voices that back their cause, according to KOB4. 

"On Indigenous Peoples' Day, we honor America’s first inhabitants and the tribal nations that continue to thrive today," said President Joe Biden, signing a proclamation earlier this month according to KOB4.