Governor Newsom signs legislation supporting California Native AmericansGovernor Newsom signs legislation supporting California Native Americans
“Over the last eight years, we have worked with tribal nations to improve tribal-state relationships — listening, learning, and iterating to create a new paradigm built on a foundation of mutual understanding and respect,” said Tribal Affairs Secretary Christina Snider-Ashtari. “Today’s legislation memorializes much of that work and ensures that our successors will continue to advance commonsense tribal-state initiatives from a place of truth, healing, and accountability.”
Native American Day
The Governor signed AB 1841 by Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino) to establish Native American Day as an official state holiday, recognizing the profound role Native communities have played in shaping the state’s culture and identity.
“This package of bills signed today by the Governor highlights several tribal priorities. I thank Governor Newsom and the First Partner for their support in uplifting tribal voices and continuing to advance these important issues,” said Assemblymember Ramos. “AB 1841 recognizes the profound role Native communities have played in shaping the state’s culture and identity by setting the foundation for a paid state holiday. With the signing of AB 2115, the Rowena Mae Ramos Act, the state further recognizes and accepts responsibility for all the harms and atrocities committed by the State Legislature and Judiciary. This builds on the Governor’s historic first formal apology in 2019, and I thank him for continuing to lead in this space. The additional bills signed today advance important policies in higher education, protecting Indian children, and continuing to address the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People crisis. This California Native American Day, we celebrate the progress toward supporting and protecting Native Americans. I am proud of the past eight years working with the Governor as we have continued to set the pace for the future.”
Formal apology
In 2019, Governor Newsom issued a formal apology for the state’s role in the historic atrocities committed against Native Americans. With AB 2115 (Ramos), the California Legislature and the courts issue an apology to California Native Americans as well and, as the State of California, recognize and accept responsibility for all of the harms and atrocities committed by its public officials, those who promoted, permitted, facilitated, and enforced policies of violence against Native people.
Office of Tribal Affairs
California has come a long way since its earliest days of statehood. In the last seven years, the Newsom administration has worked with tribes to establish a framework that supports and develops respectful, collaborative relationships that benefit everyone who calls California home. Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen (D–Elk Grove)’s AB 2507 puts critical components of that framework into statute, making the Governor’s Office of Tribal Affairs established by Governor Newsom in 2022 permanent, establishing a Tribal Advisory Committee, clarifying the role of tribal liaisons across state agencies, and creating clearer standards for tribal consultation statewide.
“On California Native American Day, I’m grateful to Governor Newsom for recognizing the importance of strengthening California’s relationship with Tribal governments,” said Assemblymember Nguyen. “AB 2507 is about making sure Tribal governments are brought into the conversation early and that engagement is more consistent across state government. I’m proud to have worked with Wilton Rancheria and Tribal leaders across California to move this forward.”
Other bills signed advance tribal priorities, including strengthening protections for children in conservatorship or guardianship proceedings, addressing public safety gaps on tribal lands, and supporting Native higher education institutions.
Tribal partnerships across the administration
Legislation signed today builds on and reinforces the administration’s efforts over the last seven years to restore and strengthen tribal partnerships across every facet of government. Together, the state and tribal governments have worked to expand access to traditional healing practices; support the return of over 100,000 acres of land to California Native American tribes; release the Native American Studies Model Curriculum, developed in collaboration with California tribes, Native scholars, educators, and community leaders; and many other efforts to place tribal leadership at the heart of land conservation, climate resilience, and cultural preservation. In the last month alone, several landmark projects and agreements have been announced.
Improving data collection and river ecology
Earlier this month, the Hoopa Valley Tribe and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announced a historic project to improve the health of salmon populations, support tribal practices, and advance the science that drives fishery management.
Beginning this season, the CDFW Willow Creek Weir, which monitors fish populations for scientific examination, will be consolidated into the Tribe’s on-reservation Selective Fish Harvest Weir, which supports selective tribal harvest. Replacing two separate weir operations — small dams that temporarily contain fish with minimal disruption to water flow — with a single facility is more efficient and better supports fish populations and the river’s overall health.
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