Board Resolution Recognizes Sept. 26, 2025 as California Native American Day

San Diego Board of Education honors and recognizes Sept. 26, 2025, as California Native American Day. Resolution No. 2025-16 reads:

WHEREAS, the Native American experience is central to the American story, being the first people to live on the land we all cherish and having profoundly shaped our country's character and our cultural heritage; and 

WHEREAS, from generation to generation, Native Americans handed down invaluable cultural knowledge and rich traditions, which continue to thrive in Native American communities across our nation today; and 

WHEREAS, since the earliest days of our republic, Native Americans have played a vital role in our country’s freedom and security, having served in all branches of America’s armed forces; and 

WHEREAS Native Americans are leaders in every aspect of our society — from the classroom to the boardroom, to the battlefield; and 

WHEREAS Native Americans make up the ranks of both our district’s certificated and classified staff as well as our student population; and 

WHEREAS Native American and Alaska Native tribal governments are an integral part of social, political, and economic fabric of the United States; and 

WHEREAS California is home to more than 100 federally recognized Indian tribes, San Diego County features the largest number of tribes and reservations of any county in the United States; and 

WHEREAS, tribal America has brought to this great country certain values and ideas that have become ingrained in the American spirit: the knowledge that humans can thrive and prosper without destroying the natural environment; the understanding that people from different backgrounds, cultures, religions, and traditions can come together to build a great country; and the awareness that diversity can be a source of strength, rather than division; and 

WHEREAS, while we pay tribute to Native American achievements, we must also acknowledge the parts of our shared history that have been marred by violence and tragic mistreatment; and 

WHEREAS, for centuries, Native Americans faced cruelty, injustice, and broken promises; and 

WHEREAS our tribal communities face stark realities, including disproportionately high rates of poverty, unemployment, crime, and disease; and 

WHEREAS San Diego County is home to more than 1,912 students who identify as Native American or California Indian, and the San Diego County Board of Education is committed to improving the academic and social-emotional outcomes for Native American students and all students in the region. 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the San Diego County Office of Education does hereby proclaim Sept. 26, 2025, as California Native American Day.