Proclamation
Whereas, during November, which has been designated “National Native American Heritage Month,” we honor the history, rich cultures, and vast contributions of Native and Indigenous peoples to our nation’s history and culture; and
Whereas, there are 324 federally recognized reservations and 10 million individuals who identify as Native American and Alaska Native in the United States, and, as President Joe Biden noted in his 2024 Proclamation on National Native American Heritage Month,
“Indigenous peoples ’history is defined by strength, survival, and a deep commitment to and pride in their heritage, right to self-governance, and ways of life. . . However, our Nation’s failed policies of the past subjected generations of Native peoples to cruelty, violence, and intimidation, and the forced removal of Native peoples from their homes and ancestral homelands; attempts to assimilate entire generations; and stripping Indigenous peoples of their identities, cultures, and traditions are some of the darkest chapters of our Nation’s history. The trauma and turmoil has fundamentally altered these communities;” and,
Whereas, the Biden Administration has worked with Tribal Nations to preserve, protect, and steward important ancestral Tribal lands and waters, including, in 2024, the designation of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary, the first sanctuary to be proposed by Indigenous communities. The sanctuary boundaries encompass 4,543 square miles of offshore waters along 116 miles off California’s central coast where Indigenous Peoples have lived for over 10,000 years; and
Whereas, Native Americans have long served in the United States military and currently serve in the highest levels of government — including Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, an enrolled member of the Laguna Pueblo tribe and former Congressional representative from New Mexico, who is America’s first Native American Cabinet secretary; and
Whereas, 380 Alameda residents identify as Native American and, in 2021, were among those who advocated for the City Council to rename a public park to “Chochenyo Park” to recognize the language of the original inhabitants of the City of Alameda, the Lisjan Ohlone people.
Now, therefore be it resolved, that I, Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft, Mayor of the City of Alameda, do hereby proclaim November 2024 as
Native American Heritage Month
in the City of Alameda and encourage all residents to learn about the rich history, culture, and contributions of Native American and Indigenous peoples, including by visiting the Alameda Free Library, Main Library where both adult and children’s books by Native American authors are on display. The Library’s online catalog also includes a themed carousel of resources for Native American Heritage Month, and, at the Altarena Playhouse,“ THE THANKSGIVING PLAY” by Larissa FastHorse, the first known female Native American playwright on Broadway, will be presented every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, starting this Friday, November 8 through Sunday, November 24.
Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft
Mayor