There's been plenty of debate about what should happen to the Christopher Columbus statue in downtown Syracuse. And now, the leader of the Oneida Indian Nation is sharing his thoughts.

When asked about the future of the statue, Ray Halbritter stopped short of saying it should be torn down. 

Last year, the city announced plans to take the statue out of Columbus Circle and move it to a private location.

As of now, the statue is still standing and there's no timeline for when it could be taken down. 

Halbritter said he admires and respects efforts to bring attention to the history of indigenous people, but believes it can be done in another way. 

"I think it's important to remember both sides, if you will, of history," he said. "And there's more to the story than just one side. As long as both sides are being told, we think that's important. I'm not so sure that you need to necessarily destroy things, but at least make sure that the full story is told."

The Columbus Monument Corp., has pushed back against the city's decision to remove the statue, saying it shows a lack of respect for Italian Americans.