American Indian Indigenous Proclamation 2024 in Celebration of American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month, November 1 – 30, 2024; California Native American Day, September 27, 2024; Indigenous Peoples’ Day, October 14, 2024; and National Day of Recognition of Native American Heritage, November 29, 2024
WHEREAS California is comprised of 109 federally recognized Native American Tribal Nations in 34 counties* and these federally recognized tribes are hosts of the lands in California that have more federally recognized tribes than any other state in the US, with the acknowledgment that there are also many tribes that are unrecognized in California; and
WHEREAS Native American history spans thousands of years throughout our continent, pre-dating the establishment of the United States of America, and the contributions of the Indigenous tribes to our way of living are vast, from food, spiritual practices, healing practices, languages, government and political contributions, protectors of the land and other natural resources, writers, athletes, thespians, political pioneers, veterans, artists, scientists, knowledge keepers of the Native Universe past and present and developers and contributors of the National Museum of the American Indian; and
WHEREAS the diversity that exists within the tribes of California Native Americans is shown in their contributions to new and improved educational resources and curriculum that is provided by the State’s History-Social Studies frameworks for K-12 public schools, including updated and broad information on the history and culture of the original inhabitants of California; and
WHEREAS we can never undo the wrongs that were inflicted on the people who lived on these lands known as the state of California, and even the language we use to discuss these issues is fraught and can carry colonial history in our mouths, but despite these things, we can work together to build fair, respectful and balanced coalitions that speak the truth about California’s past to begin to heal the deep trauma, loss and grief; and
WHEREAS Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order apologizing for the violence, mistreatment and neglect inflicted upon California Native Americans throughout the State’s history, establishing a Truth and Healing Council to correct the historical records of California Native Americans;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County recognizes and fully supports California Native American Day on the fourth Friday of September, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, the National Day of Recognition of Native American Heritage and American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month, in the month of November, and participates in local efforts to right the wrongs of the past.
Original proclamation submitted by Debra Vinson, Choctaw, CADEM, Finance Committee Member, AD11, DPCCC, District III Elected Representative, ECCDC Founder and Chair in 2021
Revised by DPCCC Issues Committee, September 2023; Reviewed, September 2024
Approved by the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County, October 17, 2024
California List of Tribes, Source: Northern California Indian Development Council (NCIDC)