A sign posted in the Free Forum area on Thursday read, Columbus Day History is Written in Native Blood. The sign was posted in conjunction with the Re-thinking Columbus Day Rally, on the anniversary of Columbus arriving in America 503 years ago.

The objective of the rally, sponsored by the SIUC Friends for Native Americans, was to re-think the history of America and other countries in the western hemisphere, Mark Denzer, FFNA council chief said.

When Columbus came to this country he was looking to acquire wealth, he said. When people look at the meaning of Columbus Day, they look at it as the discovery of America. How can it be discovered if it’s already inhabited by the Native people.

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Denzer opened the rally, which attracted nearly 75 spectators, with remarks on what he considered to be the true history of Columbus day. He said Columbus rejected the welcome Native people offered him because he only desired wealth.

This is not in your history books people, Denzer said.

Denzer said the reason Columbus rejected the Native Americans was because he did not understand them.

People don’t understand why people are different, he said. That’s what happened when Columbus came here. He didn’t accept them and the two cultures clashed.

During the rally, Organic Rain entertained the crowd with songs about social issues.

Jason Little, spokesperson for the Southern Illinois American Indian Movement who attended the rally, said that the public needs to understand what they are celebrating during Columbus Day.

They are taking the day off in honor of a murderer, slave trader and thief, he said.

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Susan Willi, a member of the Seneca nation of New York, said that what really happened when Columbus arrived is different from what most people believe.

What Columbus did when he got here is a little bit different than what has been portrayed, she said. From grade school on, it is taught that Columbus discovered America. The reality is he had to take something back to Spain, so he took Native Americans back to Spain.

The rally ended with FFNA member Robert Johnston reading the poem Harsh Realities, from the book Rising Voices, which contains writings of Native Americans. Following the poem, rally organizers and the crowd formed a circle, observing a moment of silence for all deceased Native Americans.