Fresno City Council
October 10, 2024

CITYOFFRESNOOice of Councilmember NelsonEsparza
IndigenousPeoples’ Day
WHEREAS: Today, we honor and celebrate the rich heritage and invaluable contributions of Indigenous Peoples, withspecial recognition of the Yokuts, Mono, and the Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indianscommunities, theoriginal inhabitantsof theCentral Valley; and WHEREAS: Intimeswhensocietymight highlight our differences, weinFresnoandthesurroundingareasunderstandthat our true strength lies in the rich diversity of our sharedhistories. Thetribesof theCentral Valleyhavefaced numerous challenges over generations but have remained resilient in the face of settler colonialism.Their profound expertise inlandstewardshipandecological knowledgenurturedalandabundant innaturalresources. This land, called the Central Valley and Sierra Foothills, has sustained and nourished millions;and WHEREAS: OnIndigenousPeoples' Day, wehonor theresilienceandsignificant contributionsof theYokuts, Mono,and Chukchansi peoples to the state of California. We reaffirmour commitment to fulfilling our trust andtreatyresponsibilitiestoTribal Nations, strengtheningour Nation-to-Nationrelationships; and WHEREAS: Wereflect onthetragichistoryof attemptedgenocideagainst CaliforniaNatives, acknowledgingthatTribal peoples challenge ustoconfront our past andstrivefor better. Wemust commit tounderstandingourcolonial history, the broken treaties, and policies of forced assimilation to ensure a brighter future for the7thGenerationandbeyond; and WHEREAS: Thisyear wearehighlightingthePicayuneRancheriaof theChukchansi Indianshaveinhabitedthefringesof the San Joaquin Valley and the foothills of the Sierra Nevada for more than 12,000 years. TheChukchansi people have a rich cultural legacy and continue to promote their traditions, languages, andspiritual practices, which are vital tothecultural fabricof California. Their presenceandcontributionsplaya crucial role in fostering community resilience and enriching the diversity of Fresno and its surroundingareas; and WHEREAS: Embracingthespirit of Indigenousfreedom, weencourageeveryresident topause, reflect, andtrulyappreciatetheresilienceandspirit of all First Nations.

NOWTHEREFOREBEITRESOLVED: that we, Councilmember NelsonEsparza, Mayor JerryP. Dyer, andtheFresnoCityCouncil, doherebyproclaim, the14thof October 2024, as:
“IndigenousPeoples’ Day”intheCityof Fresno.INWITNESSWHEREOF, wehavehereuntoset our handsandaffixedtheSeal of TheCityof Fresno, California, onthis10 th
dayof October 2024.