California adds Native American Day as new paid holiday

Native American Day, a state holiday on the fourth Friday of September commemorating Native American culture and history, is now a paid holiday for state workers.

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Native American Day first became a state holiday in 1998; however, it wasn’t until now that workers will be paid. That change came with California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature on Assembly Bill 1841 last week, along with several other bills with initiatives for Native American tribes. 

“Today’s legislation reflects the many facets of the relationship between California and Native American tribes: great remorse over the violent beginnings of this state, a strong commitment to forging a better path forward together, and great pride and respect for all that the Native community has done and will do,” Newsom said in a Sept. 25 news release, the same day as this year’s Native American Day. Assemblymember James Ramos of San Bernardino sponsored the legislation. 

In addition to making the day a paid state holiday for state workers, Newsom formalized an apology from the state to Native Americans with Assembly Bill 2115 for harms committed by state and court officials. The legislation builds on Newsom’s first formal apology in 2019. 

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“Over the last eight years, we have worked with tribal nations to improve tribal-state relationships — listening, learning, and iterating to create a new paradigm built on a foundation of mutual understanding and respect,” Tribal Affairs Secretary Christina Snider-Ashtari said in a news release from the governor’s office.

Other paid state holidays are listed on the California Department of Human Resources’ website.