CITY OF SEBASTOPOL
RESOLUTION NO. 6703-2025
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEBASTOPOL ACKNOWLEDGING THE ANCESTRAL
LANDS OF THE SOUTHERN POMO AND COAST MIWOK PEOPLES
WHEREAS, the City of Sebastopol is located on the ancestral homelands of the Southern Pomo and Coast Miwok peoples, who have been the stewards and caretakers of these lands since time immemorial; and WHEREAS, the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria represent descendants of the Southern Pomo and Coast Miwok peoples and continue to uphold cultural, spiritual, and environmental stewardship of their ancestral territories; and
WHEREAS, acknowledging Indigenous lands is a meaningful step toward honoring the history, presence, and ongoing contributions of Native peoples; and
WHEREAS, the City of Sebastopol recognizes the importance of educating the public and promoting awareness of Indigenous history, culture, and rights; and WHEREAS, other local governments, educational institutions, and organizations in Sonoma County have adopted land acknowledgments as a formal practice to demonstrate respect and recognition of Indigenous peoples; and
WHEREAS, this acknowledgment does not replace authentic relationships with Indigenous communities but serves as a gesture of respect and a commitment to awareness, education, and reconciliation; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Sebastopol hereby:
• Acknowledges that the City of Sebastopol is situated on the unceded ancestral homelands of the Southern Pomo and Coast Miwok peoples;
• Commits to recognizing and honoring the past, present, and future generations of these Indigenous peoples, including the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria; • Directs that a land acknowledgment statement(shortened version) be incorporated into City Council meetings by being printed on Council agendas or read aloud by the Mayor at the Mayor's discretion;The City of Sebastopol acknowledges that we live and work within the unceded ancestral homelands of the Southern Pomo and the Coast Miwok people. We pay our respect to the past, present, and future generations of these peoples, including the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria; and
• Encourages consideration of including this practice in the City’s subsidiary bodies, such as standing committees, ad hoc committees, boards, commissions, and other future committees or bodies;
• Directs staff to post the long version of the land acknowledgment statement on the City’s website under the “History of Sebastopol” section; The City of Sebastopol acknowledges that we live and work on the unceded ancestral homelands of the Southern Pomo and the Coast Miwok people, who have been the stewards and caretakers of these lands since time immemorial. We pay our respect to the past, present, and future generations of these peoples, including the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria; and
• Affirms that this action aligns with the City Council’s commitment to community vitality, ililtl d t fthIdilf SCt
Docusign Envelope ID: 99AE9F95-D041-4BA2-94E2-2C8D40F3828B The above and foregoing Resolution was duly passed, approved and adopted at a meeting by the City Council on the 2nd day of September, 2025.
I, the undersigned, hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly adopted by the City of Sebastopol City Council by the following vote:
VOTE:
Ayes: Councilmembers Carter, Hinton, Maurer, Vice Mayor McLewis and Mayor Zollman Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
APPROVED:__________________________
Mayor Stephen Zollman
ATTEST: ______________________________________________________________ Mary Gourley, Interim City Manager/City Clerk, MMC
Approved as to Form: _____________________________________________ Alex Mog, City Attorney
Docusign Envelope ID: 99AE9F95-D041-4BA2-94E2-2C8D40F3828B