By Antonio Ray Harvey, California Black Media
(CBM) – As Native Americans celebrated 100 years of citizenship and the right to vote at the State Capitol, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a proclamation declaring Native American Day and signed several bills aimed at pushing tribal priorities forward.
The package of bills, which includes policies to enhance laws for vulnerable Native American youth and increase access to social supports, was signed on Sept. 27, while hundreds of people attended the event commemorating the 57th annual California Native American Day.
“I’m proud of the progress California has made to reckon with the dark chapters of our past, and we’re committed to continuing this important work to promote equity, inclusion, and accountability for Native peoples,” Newsom stated. “As we celebrate the many tribal communities in California today, we recommit to working with tribal partners to better address their unique needs and strengthen California for all.”
Newsom signed seven tribal-related bills introduced by Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino), including Assembly Bill (AB) 2695, which helps California track trends in domestic violence and collect accurate information concerning violence in tribal lands.
AB 2695 will require the California Department of Justice (DOJ) to align its records and data with the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) to assist law enforcement agencies and other entities with identifying where incidents related to Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) are taking place.
In addition, the bill requires law enforcement to document whether domestic violence incidents took place in Indian Country.
Ramos is the first Native American elected to the California legislature and the chair of the California Legislative Native American Caucus (CLNAC).
“This measure will help California deal with the lack of clear data about MMIP and where domestic violence occurs,” stated Ramos, a member of the Serrano-Cahuilla tribe. “That information will better inform us about how to deal with this issue as California ranks fifth in the nation in MMIP unresolved cases.”
According to Ramos’ office, “the National Institute of Justice 2016 report discovered that 84% of American Indian/Alaska Native women (1.5 million people) experience violence in their lifetimes, 67% feared for their own safety, and 41% had been physically harmed from physical violence by intimate partners, stalked, and sexually assaulted.
Underreporting, racial misclassification, bias, and lack of resources to follow through and properly close cases are also obstacles when working on MMIP cases. The DOJ will now have the assets to address those issues.
“For the first time in California, law enforcement agencies will be required to collect data on crimes occurring on Indian lands and report that information to my office,” Attorney General Rob Bonta stated. “(AB 2695) will help all of us develop data-driven strategies to end the MMIP crisis in our state and improve justice for tribal citizens.”
As part of the CLNAC’s priority package, Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill 2795 authored by Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno). Ramos is the co-author of the legislation.
AB 2795 lowers administrative barriers to CalWORKS and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) services at Indian health clinics in the state. Currently, the law authorizes California to fund clinics that provide substance abuse and mental health treatment services. Despite the law, reporting and reimbursement requirements have made the funds almost unreachable to these clinics.
“It is vital that we ensure members of tribal communities have equitable access to safety net programs when needed,” Arambula stated.
The day of the signing of the bills by CLNAC, Newsom proclaimed Native American Day, a decree that commemorates 100 years ago when Native Americans were conferred citizenship in the United States and the right to vote in California. Native Americans have dealt with generational hate and policies that resulted in the taking of their land and resources. Native American Day is a moment of reckoning, the proclamation declares.
“This important milestone is not without controversy – Congress’ act was in furtherance of assimilationist policy during a period marked by the forced removal of Native children from their families, the seizure and sale of Native lands, and prohibitions on languages Native people spoke since time immemorial,” the Newsom’s decree stated.
“This California Native American Day, I encourage all Californians to learn more about the ways California Native peoples throughout the state are cultivating a
new generation of leaders and empowering their communities to build a sustainable future for all.”
Native American Day began in California in 1939, when Gov. Culbert Olson dedicated October 1 as “Indian Day.”
In 1968, California Tribal Leaders and Gov. Ronald Reagan rebranded the fourth Friday of September as “California Indian Day.” The celebration was renamed “Native American Day” in 2015 under the Jerry Brown Administration.
Facilitated by the Native American Heritage Commission and the California Tribal Chairperson Association, the 2024 version of the event attracted hundreds of people for a full day of activities. It was a great opportunity for all to celebrate the rich history, culture of California Tribes, and its first people.
To further the acknowledgment of California Native Americans, Newsom signed Ramos’ AB 1821, a bill that requires California public schools teach the history of the impact on California Native Americans during Spanish Mission and Gold Rush eras.
Tony Thurmond, State Superintendent of Public Instructions, co-sponsored AB 1821.
“This legislation will help ensure curriculum on California’s Spanish Mission and Gold Rush eras accurately captures the treatment and impact of Native Americans during these significant eras in state history,” Thurmond stated. “This initiative supports California’s diverse students to be seen, heard, and understood in their instructional materials, and to foster a deeper appreciation for our Native communities’ history and cultures.”
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