UTEP has decided to officially support and recognize Indigenous Peoples day, which will be held Oct. 9. Members of UTEP’s Academic Revival of Indigenous Studies and Education (A.R.I.S.E) were on the forefront to make this happen by support from other organizations, gathering signatures and advocating for official recognition.

Indigenous Peoples Day is rooted as a counter-celebration to Columbus Day, according to A.R.I.S.E. The day celebrates all sorts of histories and cultures from Native Americans and is celebrated at other colleges and cities.

Some of the Native groups in the area include Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo, the Mescalero Apache near Ruidoso, New Mexico and the Tortugas Pueblo group in Las Cruses.

“I’m so excited that it passed and received all the work we put into it and it paid off,” Laura Navarro, president of A.R.I.S.E said. “I never thought I would be part of this kind of change on campus and I’m so glad to have been a part of it. It seems like such a small change, but the meaning behind it makes a huge difference.”