SACRAMENTO—Gov. Gavin Newsom today signed three important Native American bills on California Native American Day and proclaimed California Native American Day. One would strengthen high school students’ rights to wear tribal regalia at graduation ceremonies and limit school authorities’ ability to restrict those rights. Another would require the California State University (CSU) system to identify available lands in CSU possession while consulting with Native American tribes that may use them to rebury Native remains returned to the tribes. A third would streamline gaming tribes’ ability to provide grants to other tribes with limited or nongaming resources. The three measures were introduced by Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino), the first and only California Native American elected to the Legislature since statehood 175 years ago.
Ramos said, “I thank the governor for his signature on these bills that represent a turning of the page in how California writes its story with Native American tribes. Just acknowledging—once again—a student’s right to wear tribal regalia at high school graduation ceremonies is a far cry from early statehood when California’s first governor called for a ‘War of Extermination’ against the tribes.”
“We also look forward to working with the CSU system to craft a state policy paving the way to bring the remains of our ancestors a step closer to proper reburial. This would meet a decades-overdue obligation to repatriate Native American remains and funerary items wrongfully in possession of CSU campuses around the state,” Ramos continued. “It is painful to think of our ancestors’ remains stored in boxes on shelves instead of in the earth. We also hope streamlining grants funded by gaming tribes will help fellow tribes without the same resources. Gov. Newsom’s approval of these measures is welcome, particularly on a day when we celebrate the contributions of our state’s tribes, their diversity, resilience and culture.”
In announcing his approval of the legislation, Gov. Newsom’s news release stated, “This legislation builds on the efforts of the Newsom administration to examine and address historical wrongs and promote access and inclusion for California Native peoples. Earlier this year, the state released the Native American Studies Model Curriculum, developed in collaboration with California tribes, Native scholars, educators, and community leaders.” Newsom approved the following tribal bills:
- AB 1369 (Wearing of tribal regalia at high school graduation ceremonies): Prohibits school districts from banning the wearing of tribal regalia at graduation ceremonies. Clovis Unified School District 2025 graduate Bella Garcia said, “California sits on the traditional homelands of all California Indian people, and it is important to recognize California tribes’ sovereignty. Tribes and their members are the best informed and most appropriate persons to determine what is or is not appropriate cultural regalia. I want to thank all who have made this bill a reality including Governor Newsom, Assemblymember Ramos and all who took the time to listen to tribal families and students. American Indian youth deserve to be recognized, celebrated and uplifted while honoring their ancestors who came before them. Graduation is one of the most momentous milestones for all students, especially for California Native Americans. It should be celebrated, not marred by misplaced and uninformed bureaucratic objections that prohibit cultural pride.”
AB 1369 is sponsored by California Indian Legal Services and the Tule River Indian Tribe. Supporters include various tribes, ACLU California Action, California Indian Nations College, Indigenous Justice, Los Angeles County Office of Education, San Bernardino City Unified School District and the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools.
- AB 977 (CSU land and repatriation of Native American human remains): Requires the CSU system, in consultation with Native American tribes, to develop a policy for the repurpose of land in its possession for the reburial of Native American human remains. The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990 (NAGPRA) and the 2001 California counterpart, CalNAGPRA establishes requirements for the repatriation of Native American remains and cultural items to tribes by government agencies and museums that maintain collections of remains and cultural items, which includes the CSU system. It is sponsored by the Santa Rosa Rancheria Tachi Yokuts Tribe and backed by the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake, Morongo Band of Mission Indians, Society for California Archaeology, Tule River Indian Tribe, the California Faculty Association and the CSU Office of the Chancellor.
“The California State University is committed to addressing the painful legacy of Native ancestors and cultural items held within our system,” said Samantha Cypret (Mountain Maidu), executive director of the CSU Office of Tribal Relations. “AB 977 represents an important step in fulfilling our responsibility to work in true partnership with Tribal Nations to ensure their ancestors and cultural belongings are laid to rest with dignity and respect. We are deeply appreciative for Assemblymember Ramos’ leadership and look forward to working closely with Native voices across California as we move this work forward.”
- AB 221 (Streamlining grants to non- or limited-gaming tribes): Streamlines the existing Tribal Nation Grant Fund (TNGF) process to provide annual equal distribution grants, upon application, to federally recognized tribes that either have no gaming or operate limited gaming operations (less than 350 Class III gaming devices). Grants may only be used for tribal purposes. The Tribal Nation Grant Fund process was enacted in 2017. AB 221 would distribute annual grants of $600,000 or at least 85% of the available monies in the grant fund, whichever is greater, and finance projects such as housing, vocational training, water conservation and other programs. AB 221 is sponsored by the Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations and the California Nations Indian Gaming Association. It is also supported by numerous tribes, the California Chamber of Commerce and the California Democratic Party Rural Caucus.
Another “win” for tribes this year was inclusion in the 2025-26 budget of $5 million to establish a three-year pilot program granting tribal law enforcement officers peace officer status to improve public safety on tribal lands and combat the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) crisis. California ranks among the fifth highest in the nation for unresolved MMIP cases in the nation. The state Department of Justice would oversee the pilot project that would grant tribal officers additional authority on tribal lands and in other places to be determined by tribes and the DOJ. Additionally, California Indian Nations College received $10 million to assist in its quest to become the first federally fully accredited tribal college in the state. California, with the highest population of Native Americans in the country, lacks such a higher education institution.
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Assemblymember James C. Ramos proudly represents the 45th Assembly district that includes the Cities of Fontana, Highland, Mentone, Redlands, Rialto and San Bernardino. He is the first and only California Native American serving in the Legislature. Ramos chairs Assembly Budget Subcommittee #6 on Public Safety and the Assembly Select Committee on Native American Affairs.