Columbus Day century found definitive evidence proving April 22 to be the actual date of the arrival of Cabral's fleet on South American shores. In 2000, the government of Brazil used the date to celebrate 500 years of the existence of the country. The festivities, however, were met with protests by indigenous peoples who claimed it marked 500 years of genocide of indigenous Brazilians. Only a handful of Caribbean countries still observe holidays related to Columbus Day. In Belize, October 12 is celebrated as Day of the Americas or Pan American Day. In the Bahamas, it was formerly known as Discovery Day,
Amerindian Heritage Month (Guyana) Amerindian Heritage Month (Guyana) Amerindian Heritage Month is an annual observance that is held every September in Guyana in honour of Guyana's indigenous peoples. Amerindian Heritage Month has its beginnings in Amerindian commemorations of 10 September 1957 - the day on which Stephen Campbell became Guyana's first Amerindian Member of Parliament. On 10 September 1995, Guyana's Prime Minister, Cheddi Jagan, officially designated September as Amerindian Heritage Month. In memory of Campbell's achievement, 10 September is still celebrated as "Heritage Day". The official opening of Amerindian Heritage Month celebrations takes place at the Umana Yana on the first day of September.