SACRAMENTO—Tribal representatives along with labor leaders and legislators today urged establishing California Native American Day as an official paid state holiday. AB 1841, introduced by Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino) would designate the fourth Friday of September as a paid holiday for state employees.
Ramos, a member of the Serrano/Cahuilla tribe, is the first California Native American lawmaker elected in the state’s nearly 175‑year history. He has advocated for the establishment of California Native American Day since 1998, long before his election to the Legislature.
“I was a San Manuel tribal council member when I started working toward this goal with then‑Assemblymember Joe Baca Sr.,” Ramos said. He added, “We have many worthy holidays, but this bill creates justice for past atrocities toward the California Indian people who have lived on this land we call California. They lived here through the colonization, the mission and gold rush eras that were followed by the subsequent enslavement, genocide, forced relocation and assimilation as others moved onto the lands where the First People were living. Native American history is California history which is why they deserve a special acknowledgement.”
In 2021, Ramos successfully authored AB 855, which created a paid judicial holiday.
Antoinette Del Rio, Chairwoman of the California Valley Miwok Tribe stated, “A paid holiday does not atone for the great injustices of the past and those wrongs that continue into the present. But it is an acknowledgement of the price that was paid by California tribes, and it honors those who prevailed through courage, resiliency, and a deep love of the lands. It is these lands that constitute this state and its rich history. It is a history brought forward by the native people who called this place home long before any other human beings.”
Ramos is committed to ensuring that California’s policies reflect an honest understanding of the state’s past and a respectful partnership with its tribal nations. AB 1841 would align California Native American Day with other state holidays and elevate public understanding of tribal history—recognizing the profound role Native communities have played in shaping the state’s culture and identity.
Lorena Gonzalez, President of the California Federation of Labor Unions, noted that “James Ramos has drastically shown us why representation matters. Having been elected as the first California Indian in the legislature. He made sure that all the issues we should have been looking at are brought to the forefront. We could not have agreed more, when he came to organized labor and said, ‘I think it’s time for California’s First People to have a paid holiday!”
Ramos noted that the courts led the way with a paid holiday. “It is now time for the rest of the state to follow,” he concluded.
