Governor Newsom proclaims Native American Heritage Month 2026
SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today issued a proclamation declaring November 2026 as “Native American Heritage Month.”
The text of the proclamation and a copy can be found below.
PROCLAMATION
Long before it became a state, California was home to the largest and most diverse population of Native people north of what is now Mexico, with peoples coming from, and living in relationship with, the abundant coasts, valleys, deserts, and mountains of the most beautiful place on earth. Today, despite waves of newcomers—some singularly bent on their destruction and some merely seeking a better life in a land of plenty—California Native peoples are still here, still leading, and still shaping the lands and waters of their ancestors.
This final Native American Heritage Month of my term, we reflect on the progress made to advance Native-driven initiatives across the state in the years since my early apology to California Native peoples. Guided by a commitment to historical justice, we have returned more than 100,000 acres of land, backed by over $200 million, and invested hundreds of millions more in tribal clean energy and housing. In partnership with tribes, we have completed the largest river restoration in the nation’s history, and we have supported Native stewardship of the land itself: restoring habitat, welcoming back species, and rekindling the practice of cultural burning. From broadband and tribal colleges to justice systems, behavioral health and services for Native people with developmental disabilities, our aim has been the same: to address a legacy of harms to Native peoples while helping them build their futures on their own terms.
In addition to California Native peoples, California is now home to the largest population of Native Americans from across the United States. Many came as children sent here to schools meant to erase who they were; many came as families moved en masse as part of federal relocation programs; and many came for the California Dream that still calls to so many from all corners of the map. Today, these communities stand alongside California Native peoples, shaping a California collective culture that is both grounded in Native values and dynamic in worldviews.
This November, all Californians have cause to be a bit more optimistic about our collective trajectory as a society. Just this week, we witnessed history made by both Deb Haaland, the first Native American woman to be elected to the office of governor, and Peggy Flanagan, the first Native American woman to be elected to the office of senator, in the 250-year history of the United States. These historic moments represent continued progress on both state and national levels, embracing the best version of ourselves and working toward a future that represents the entirety of our country.
This Native American Heritage Month, as we reflect on this moment of hope, I call on all Californians to learn more about the Native people across the United States who are finding the courage to lead during times of uncertainty, to carry forward the renewed hope we are feeling as a result, and to honor the sacrifices of past generations by building a future we can be proud of.
NOW THEREFORE I, GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of the State of California, do hereby proclaim November 2026, as “Native American Heritage Month.”
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 6th day of November 2026.
GAVIN NEWSOM
Governor of California
ATTEST:
SHIRLEY N. WEBER, Ph.D.
Secretary of State