Every year, I look forward to California Native American Day on the west steps of the State Capitol in Sacramento. It is a day to learn from California Native cultures across the state, to honor elders, and, of course, to find joy eating Indian Tacos and visiting vendors from tribes near and far.
Many people don’t realize how long this day has been in the making. Its roots trace back to 1939, when Governor Culbert Olson called for a day of recognition. In 1998, it became observed on the fourth Friday of September. But this day is more than a celebration. It reminds us that California’s Indigenous peoples have always fought for their right to exist, through enslavement and genocide. It is a day to honor the memory of those who rose against the missions and resisted the militias, and to recognize that their descendants are still here.
This year, I spent the day welcoming visitors to the California Humanities booth alongside our partners at the California Museum. Together we shared the truth-telling work of the Reclaiming Our Stories podcast and the Reclaiming Our Stories: Reflecting on the Land exhibition, and invited folks to our upcoming Indigenous Peoples’ Day Virtual Discussion. As I stood there, I thought about this history and about the stories our podcast guests have trusted us to carry. I was reminded that being in community means sharing resources and opportunities, and making sure good work finds the people it is meant for.
Throughout the day, I reconnected with community members I have known for many years and met others for the first time. Then came one of the most moving moments of the day: Secretary of Tribal Affairs Christina Snider-Ashtari announced that Governor Gavin Newsom had signed legislation making California Native American Day a paid state holiday. The crowd erupted into cheers! She also gave the podcast and exhibition a shoutout from the stage, a reminder of how interconnected this work is.
As a guest on this land that I call home, I am honored to be part of truth-telling work that asks each of us to consider our role in ensuring that California Native sovereignty is honored because we all stand to benefit and for the collective wellbeing of the land, the water, and all our more-than-human kin.
