September 24, 2026
Dear SRJC Community,
On Friday, September 25th, Santa Rosa Junior College will be closed in observance of Native American Day, to honor and celebrate indigenous people, tribes, and their cultures of California. We are strengthened in our community when we are able to provide the education, resources, and support for all students, such as the Native American Center, located on the Santa Rosa campus.
The California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC) was created in statute in 1976 codifying a nine-member body whose members are appointed by the Governor. "The NAHC identifies, catalogs, and protects Native American cultural resources - ancient places of special religious or social significance to Native Americans and known ancient graves and cemeteries of Native American on private and public lands in California." Originally declared as "Indian Day" in 1939 by Governor Culbert Olson, it was later moved to the observance on the 4th Friday of September in 1968 and renamed "California Native American Day," by Governor Ronald Reagan.
In 1998, Native American Day was designated (passage of AB 1953) as an official state holiday. Years later in 2022, CA Assemblyman James Ramos- the first California Native American State Assemblyman and member of the Yuhaaviatam of San Miguel Nation championed legislative updates to designate it a judicial holiday. I would like to thank Paul Stewart, President of the Native American Faculty and Staff Association, for his leadership and contributions to educating our SRJC community on the historical significance of California Native American Day. To read more about this holiday, please go to https://nafsa.santarosa.edu/event/california-native-american-day
Our beloved SRJC sites sit in the traditional territories of the Southern Pomo and Coast Miwok. Many of our students, faculty, and staff are members of local tribes. Students, faculty, and staff representing our SRJC Native American Center will attend the California Native American Day celebration this year at the State Capitol in Sacramento on Friday, Sept. 25th.
May we continue our work honoring the experiences of Native Americans in our community.
In community,
Dr. Garcia
Angélica Garcia, Ed.D.
Superintendent/President
707-527-4431, angelicagarcia@santarosa.edu
