Governor issued a proclamation declaring Oct. 12, 2026, as "Indigenous Peoples' Day," the governor's office said.

The proclamation says this is the eighth consecutive year California has observed the day; it calls California home to one of the largest and most diverse Indigenous populations in the world.

The text says Indigenous peoples make up 6% of the global population and praises Indigenous stewardship of biodiversity and landscapes; the proclamation cites state efforts it describes as "historic land return, co-management, and restoration of Indigenous sciences" on California lands and waters.

The release also notes the recent felling of the last of four ancestral cottonwood trees, called "grandmother" or "abuela," and says the loss underscores that borders do not define relationships between people and land.

A proclamation is ceremonial and does not itself create new law or change state programs; the Journal notes that policy or service changes would require separate legislation or administrative action.

For readers: the proclamation signals the administration's priorities and recognition of Indigenous communities; it does not on its own change state benefits, eligibility or services.

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Gavin Newsom

Governor · Democrat

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