SALT LAKE CITY — A bill that would have changed Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day was voted down Tuesday by the Utah Senate.
"It is meant as no disrespect to any holiday or any person, but our history did not start with pioneer days and the celebration we have then," said Sen. Jim Dabakis, D-Salt Lake City, the sponsor of SB170. "Before Father Escalante got here, before the LDS pioneers arrived, there weren't just people; there was a thriving, incredible, amazing civilization that was here, and we do not pay tribute to that civilization."
Dabakis unsuccessfully tried to schedule a time for the bill to be heard so Native American supporters from around the state could attend.
Sen. Lyle Hillyard, R-Logan, told reporters he believes the body denied a scheduled time on the Senate floor because the 2016 Legislature is coming to a close.
"It's just that time is so precious," Hillyard said, adding that bills scheduled to be heard often take longer than usual.
The committee that heard the bill last week was packed with Native Americans.
"It was beautiful, it was emotional, it was very, almost life-altering to see hundreds of Native Americans come to the Capitol and watch their voices be heard for the first time," Dabakis said, adding that Utah has never had a Native American lawmaker.
The bill faced strong scrutiny Tuesday in the Senate.
Sen. Todd Weiler, R-Woods Cross, shared a speech about Columbus, calling the deaths of Native Americans a "complicated issue" and protesting the word "genocide" used by Sen. Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City.
"I'm not going to sit here and listen to history being rewritten. We have a great history in this country, and we can honor Columbus and indigenous people without disparaging either side," Weiler said.
Sen. Allen Christensen, R-North Ogden, opposed the bill in committee for a similar reason.
"If they choose to feel oppressed, that's their right. But another holiday and demeaning someone else is not the way to lift yourself up again," Christensen reiterated on the floor Tuesday.
"I'm saddened by this discussion we're having today. It really hits me hard," said Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper. "I don't know why this has to be either/or."
Stephenson unsuccessfully attempted to amend the bill to create "Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples Day."
Dabakis said he talked to Native American leaders about a similar change and they were "greatly offended" by the suggestion.
The bill failed on a 10-15 vote.
Email: elarson@deseretnews.com