CITY OF FRESNO
The Fresno City Council
Indigenous Peoples’ Day
WHEREAS: This year marks the 45th anniversary of the “1977 U.N. Conference on Indians in the Americas” and 30th anniversary of the “Columbus Quincentenary.” Viewed together, these events consequently inspired the first “Indigenous Peoples’ Day” celebration and pow wow in Berkeley, California in 1992. In keeping with established traditions, The City of Fresno takes immense pride in honoring the Yokuts, Mono, and Miwok peoples who have protected and stewarded the fertile lands of this region since time immemorial. The City of Fresno and greater Central Valley region are fortunate to sit on the traditional and sacred lands of the Yokuts and Mono tribes; and
WHEREAS: The City of Fresno is also home to Indigenous Migrant Communities, including Mexican Indigenous communities from Oaxaca, Mexico who contribute to our local economy, agriculture industry as farmers and farmworkers, and are community leaders. This includes Indigenous persons of Zapotec, Mixteco, and Triqui heritage and origin; and
WHEREAS: The City of Fresno encourages community leaders to be inclusive and receptive to the diverse cultural teachings, traditional practices, and value and beliefs systems of local Native American communities.
California Native American communities are integral partners in wildfire management, wildlife preservation, and waterway protection here in the Central Valley and in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. In times of crisis, we are committed to showing solidarity with Native American leaders, including tribal elders, and the communities they serve; and
WHEREAS: The City of Fresno recognizes the monumental contributions of Native Americans and Indigenous communities to the S tate of California, our states’ municipal governments, and to our nation which have shaped our national identity. Concurrently, we commemorate the resilience of global Indigenous populations which have survived horrific campaigns of violence; have endured the proliferation of foreign diseases; and have struggled to maintain their identities. The legacy of colonization has immeasurably and intergenerationally affected Indigenous populations; and
WHEREAS: We wish to celebrate and recognize this day as “Indigenous Peoples’ Day” in the City of Fresno and we strive to one day establish “Indigenous Peoples’ Day” as a city holiday.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: that Council President Nelson Esparza, the Fresno City Council, and Mayor Jerry Dyer do hereby proclaim, this 10th day of September 2022 as:
“Indigenous Peoples’ Day”
in the City of Fresno,
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto set our hands
and affixed the Seal of The City of Fresno, California, this 10th day of October 2022.
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MAYOR JERRY DYER COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON ESPARZA
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COUNCIL VICE PRESIDENT TYLER MAXWELL COUNCILMEMBER ESMERALDA SORIA
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COUNCILMEMBER MIKE KARBASSI COUNCILMEMBER MIGUEL ARIAS
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COUNCILMEMBER LUIS CHAVEZ COUNCILMEMBER GARRY BREDEFELD