On the fourth Friday of September, the State of California celebrates California Native American Day recognizing the resilience and countless contributions of California’s Indigenous People. On June 18, 2019, Governor Gavin Newsom issued a formal apology to California Native Americans in which he acknowledged that “California Native American peoples suffered violence, discrimination and exploitation sanctioned by state government throughout its history.” Despite the State’s recognition of the painful legacy of colonization and genocide, today inside the Capitol there is a statue depicting Christopher Columbus and outside one of Juniper Serra. These statues and other racist statues across the state are an offensive reminder of U.S. imperialism, colonialism, genocide, bloodshed, rape, pedophilia, and enslavement of our indigenous ancestors.
On Thursday, June 18, 2020, at 2PM Indigenous People from throughout California are convening at the East Side of the California Capitol to demand that Governor Newsom and the California State Legislature, including support from the California Office of the Tribal Advisor and California Arts Council, to remove the statues of Columbus’ Last Appeal to Queen Isabella and Juniper Serra from the Capitol immediately and replace it with a statue honoring our California Indigenous People. In addition, we are demanding the State of California recognizes Indigenous People’s Day instead of Columbus Day.
In September 2018, the “Early Days Monument” statue was removed after a 25 year effort by the local Bay Area Indian community. The removal was supported by the SF Arts Commission and unanimously by the SF Board of Supervisors. In July 2019, the California Arts Council and the California Office of the Tribal Advisor held a convening to ask for input regarding some of the challenges facing Native Artists in California. From our coalition, Morning Star Gali (Pit River), Ida Victoria (Luisano), and Michael Ramirez (Maidu) requested support for the removal of racist statues and we have not since heard from the California Office of the Tribal Advisor nor California Arts Council.
The California State Government has entertained our communities with false promises for nearly two centuries, which are glorified small, performative acts that have little to no impact on us. We must have true accomplices in ensuring that we have a say on issues impacting us. Nothing about us without us.
