California Native American Day

California Native American Day celebrates the distinctive culture of the Native American people indigenous to California and calls attention to their triumphs and struggles that comprise their rich history.

California designated the fourth Friday of September in 1998 as California Native American Day to dismantle the misconceptions about California Indians. Previously, Students were led to believe California history began with the arrival of the first explorers and lacked a fundamental understanding of Native American’s existing society. Native populations across the country were seen as primitive and were too often associated with stereotypes like teepees and drums.

Education in K-12 schools and community colleges has since evolved to entail the extensive history of the many tribal groups in California. There is now programs and conferences each year on California Native American Day to continue educating our communities.