Nearly three decades after California established Native American Day, the annual observance will now come with paid time off for state workers under a new law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
The law marks the latest step in California's efforts to recognize Native American communities and their role in the state's history. Authored by Assemblymember James C. Ramos, a member of the Serrano/Cahuilla tribe, the measure was among a group of tribal-priority bills Newsom signed that address issues ranging from higher education and child welfare to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People crisis.
Ramos said the legislation follows Newsom's 2019 formal apology for the state's historical violence and discrimination against Native communities and comes
alongside the signing of AB 2115, known as the Rowena Mae Ramos Act, which he said further acknowledges "the harms and atrocities committed by the State Legislature and Judiciary."
Ramos is a member of the Serrano/Cahuilla tribe and the first California Native American lawmaker elected in the state’s history. He has advocated for California Native American Day since 1998. In 2021, Ramos authored AB 855, which created a paid judicial holiday.
"This California Native American Day, we celebrate the progress toward supporting and protecting Native Americans," Ramos said. "I am proud of the past eight years working with the Governor as we have continued to set the pace for the future.”
When is Native American Day?
Native American Day in California is the 4th Friday in September.
When was Native American Day established in California?
Native American Day has been a state holiday since 1998. In 1968, California Governor Ronald Reagan signed a proclamation declaring the Fourth Friday in September "American Indian Day." In 2022, the holiday became a state paid judicial holiday.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Native American Day now a paid holiday for California state workers
