Apparently Toby Doeden campaign worker and Minnehaha County Commissioner Cole Heisey has a big beef with Native American Day, going so far as to call it “a mistake” on Social Media as he proudly displays a banner image for Columbus Day, calling the federal holiday substitution disrespectful to Italian Americans, and a slap in the face to broader American History..
”It was a mistake to replace Columbus Day over three decades ago.” – Minnehaha County Commissioner Cole Heisey
Because South Dakota is an enclave of Italian immigrants? I would wager Cole’s exposure to Italian Americans consists of playing Mario Kart.
What was that campaign promise Cole made when running for Office?
That was pretty short-lived!
If you wish to register your displeasure with how Minnehaha County is being represented by Cole, the Toby Doeden for Governor campaign worker (who is actually no longer working as an insurance agent), his contact information can be found here.
Sounds like Cole may be another fool in public office.
Don’t forget about his speech at the proud boys rally a few years back. No one can be surprised by his comment.
What can you expect from an O’Gorman grad?
Well, this is just a foolish statement. Your post says more about you than it does about any O’Gorman graduate. Where someone went to high school doesn’t define them, but this kind of comment certainly defines you.
PS I am not an OG grad.
Can’t believe I agree with him but I do. Columbus Day and Native American Day should be two seperate holidays, zero reason one needed to replace the other.
Columbus treated the indigenous people horribly and was not the first to “discover” America. I think he should be a footnote in history and celebrated at all.
*Not celebrated
Somewhat agreed. Hey maybe we can morph Columbus Day into Colonizer Day, just for accuracy.
Columbus was Italian but sailed under the Spanish flag is supposedly entombed in Seville Cathedral, at least there is a shrine to him there. So what about the Spanish? Does Cole think the Spanish Americans are being disrespected as well?
What a moronic statement.
Italian-Americans are not a big constituency in South Dakota, unlike Native Americans. Grazi!
While I understand your sentiment, the idea that a group of people are small enough a minority that we should ignore them is a terrible thought process.
Poor Cole, but let’s get real: Italian white supremacy and white privilege won’t cut it anymore. He was rightfully kicked off the stage because Native Americans deserve the credit and respect that has been denied to them for centuries, far more than any legacy of slave owners. It’s time to stop whining and face the truth—if you can’t handle this reality, it’s a clear admission of your racism. This is about justice and accountability, not comfort. Either wake up and acknowledge the need for change, or step aside while those in power begin to dismantle the structures of oppression. Enough is enough!
“controversially replacing an existing holiday”? It was passed unanimously. Maybe celebrating a man who committed genocide, trafficked children, and never stepped foot in what would become the US should be controversial…
It’s funny that Columbus gets the fame for believing the islands of the Caribbean were off the west coast of India, never set foot in North America, and never knew he wasn’t where he thought he was. But we have had this holiday commemorating the non-discovery..
We don’t celebrate the arrival of the Vikings, who really did make the Atlantic crossing first.
And if anybody should be credited with the non-discovery of continent, it should be Ferdinand and Isabella, who not only funded the voyage, they expelled all the Muslims and Jews from the Iberian peninsula, instituted the infamous Spanish Inquisition, and married their daughter Katherine off to the House of Tudor.
Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!
The curious thing is, Ferdinand and Isabella created a chain of events which formed the present-day world.
The expulsion of the Muslims from the Iberian peninsula was one of Osama Bin Laden’s biggest grievances, and he used it to rally Muslims to his cause. . The Spanish colonization of the Americas has the inhabitants speaking Spanish today. Henry VIII & Katherine’s inability to produce a male heir resulted in the Church of England, promoted the protestant reformation and diminished the political power of the papacy..Christopher Columbus was just an Italian who worked for them.
Birds of a feather flock together in the perpetual victimhood campaign of Doedent.
Cole, why don’t you say that to my face next time?
It’s been Native American Day here in SD longer than that imbecile has been alive and it was unanimously backed in the legislature. Not surprising he’s so ignorant of his own state’s history, but I miss the days when such boorish self-important ignorance was rightly career-ending in state politics.
Apparently this guy is not alone. Even Thune is being attacked.
https://www.newsweek.com/senate-republican-sparks-conservative-fury-native-american-day-post-10877654
Cole it was also ‘No Bra Day’ and ‘National Train Your Brain Day’. Obviously you did not do the latter.