Native American Day

Native American Day is a state holiday in California, observed on the 4th Friday in September each year. It honors the culture, history, and contributions of Native American peoples to the United States and to the world. The holiday provides an opportunity to recognize the rich heritage of the Indigenous nations that have inhabited North America for thousands of years.

Unlike Columbus Day, which has been increasingly criticized for celebrating a figure associated with colonization and the suffering of Indigenous peoples, Native American Day offers an alternative that focuses on honoring rather than overlooking the original inhabitants of the Americas.

The holiday is marked by cultural celebrations, educational programs, powwows, and community events across California. It serves as a reminder of both the remarkable achievements and the historical injustices faced by Native American communities, and the importance of preserving Indigenous languages, traditions, and sovereignty.

California designated the 4th Friday in September as Native American Day in 1968, making it one of the earliest states to formally recognize Indigenous peoples with a dedicated holiday. The legislation was championed by Governor Ronald Reagan, who signed the bill into law.

The movement to recognize Native Americans with a dedicated day has a longer history. As early as 1915, the Congress of the American Indian Association declared the second Saturday of each May as American Indian Day, though it never achieved widespread official recognition.

South Dakota took a different but related approach in 1990, when Governor George S. Mickelson renamed Columbus Day to Native American Day — making it the first state to replace Columbus Day with an Indigenous-focused holiday. However, South Dakota's observance falls on the second Monday of October, coinciding with the former Columbus Day, unlike California's September date.

The broader movement to recognize Indigenous peoples has grown significantly in recent decades. Many cities and states across the U.S. have established Indigenous Peoples' Day as an alternative to Columbus Day. Native American Day in California represents one of the earliest and most established of these recognitions.

The holiday reflects the ongoing efforts of Native American activists and communities to achieve recognition, preserve their cultures, and address historical and contemporary injustices, including broken treaties, forced relocations, and the suppression of Indigenous languages and practices.

Powwows: Large intertribal powwows are held across California, featuring traditional drumming, singing, dancing, and regalia. These gatherings celebrate the diversity and vitality of Native American cultures.

Cultural Celebrations: Communities organize events showcasing Native American art, music, storytelling, traditional crafts, and cuisine. These celebrations often highlight the cultures of California's many Indigenous nations, including the Chumash, Miwok, Pomo, Yurok, and many others.

Educational Programs: Schools, museums, and cultural institutions host lectures, film screenings, and workshops about Native American history, contemporary issues, and cultural traditions. The emphasis is on providing accurate, respectful representations of Indigenous peoples.

Art Exhibitions: Galleries and cultural centers present exhibitions of Native American art, both traditional and contemporary, including basket weaving, beadwork, pottery, and modern visual arts.

Storytelling Events: Traditional storytelling is a cornerstone of many Native American cultures. Events may feature elders and community members sharing oral histories, creation stories, and teachings.

Language Preservation Activities: Many events focus on Indigenous language revitalization, including classes, immersion programs, and demonstrations — recognizing the critical importance of preserving languages that are often endangered.