Assemblymember James Ramos (D-Highland) speaks at the San Bernardino Justice Center on Sept. 23
San Bernardino, CA — Leaders from across San Bernardino County gathered on Sept. 23 to celebrate the second annual recognition of California Native American Day as a paid holiday for the state’s judicial branch, marking a milestone inhonoring the contributions and history of California’s First People.
The event, held at the San Bernardino Justice Center, highlighted the passage of Assembly Bill (AB) 855, introduced in 2021 by Assemblymember James Ramos (D-Highland).
The legislation designates the fourth Friday in September as a paid holiday for court employees statewide, closing courthouses to commemorate the state’s Indigenous communities.
“This celebration has been a long time coming,” Ramos told attendees. “Giving a paid holiday in honor of California’sfirst people and our ancestors is something that we need to be celebrating every day.”
Ramos, a member of the Serrano/Cahuilla tribes and the first California Native American elected to the state legislature,emphasized the importance of using the day to learn about local tribes, their customs and their contributions to California’s development.
“Celebrating our history helps correct misconceptions,” Ramos said, noting that Native tribes across California havediverse languages and traditions. “Our music is very much different than what you might see on television.”
Ramos also highlighted historical contributions, pointing out that major roadways such as Interstates 10, 15 and 215 were originally Native trails.
He shared that the Zanja irrigation canal, built by Indigenous people in the early 1800s, was crucial to the growth of Redlands and surrounding communities.
San Bernardino County is the largest county in the United States by area, and its courts are the first in California to officially recognize the holiday, according to Ramos.
“It took a piece of legislation for that to happen, and I worked closely with the judicial system to ensure that bill moved forward,” he said.
Presiding Judge Michael A. Sachs praised the partnership that made the recognition possible.
“Assembly Bill 855 was a long time in coming, and without Asm. Ramos’s sponsorship, it never would have happened,” Sachs said. “We are greatly indebted to him for the efforts he made in getting that bill passed.”
Sachs also acknowledged milestones in representation within the county’s courts, including the appointment of Michael Dauber as the first Native American judge in the county and Sunshine Sykes as the first Native American womanconfirmed as a federal district court judge in California.
San Bernardino Mayor Helen Tran spoke about the broader significance of the holiday.
“This historic achievement is more than just a legislative change,” Tran said. “It is a reflection of our evolving understanding of history, culture and the profound contributions of Native American communities to our great nation.”
Tran emphasized that an inclusive city requires recognizing the diverse narratives of its residents.
“Our strength lies in our diversity, and every voice, every perspective and every cultural background enriches the vibrant tapestry of our city,” she said.
San Bernardino County Supervisor Joe Baca Jr., whose father worked with Ramos years earlier to promote Native American Day, lauded Ramos’s persistence.
“He’s probably the greatest single state advocate for Native American rights in the state of California,” Baca said. “This holiday teaches that we are respecting Native American culture by having this recognition.”
Ramos also used the event to shed light on ongoing challenges faced by Native communities, including high suicide ratesand the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women.
California ranks fifth in the nation for unresolved cases involving missing Indigenous persons, according to the Urban Indian Health Institute.
“These issues are still plaguing us here in the year 2025,” Ramos said. “Today is a day that we’re standing unified, sideby side, to recognize California’s first people as a paid holiday.”
The ceremony concluded with performances by the Inter-tribal Bird Singers and guests from Owens Valley, who sharedtraditional songs to honor ancestors and celebrate the resilience of Native communities.
Ramos encouraged those receiving the day off to take time to learn about their local tribes and history.
“This holiday really does honor our ancestors and our elders for the contributions they’ve given to the state ofCalifornia,” he said. “It is a paid holiday in which we claim in their honor.”
California Native American Day was first established in 1998 as an educational observance for schools.
The passage of AB 855 transformed it into a formal paid holiday for the judicial branch, beginning in 2022.
As Ramos reflected on the journey to secure this recognition, he emphasized the importance of continued progress.
“This is just one example of how California’s First People and the state of California are starting to look at the treatment of California’s First People,” he said.
