Native American Day in California

In 1968, Governor Ronald Reagan signed a resolution calling for a holiday called American Indian Day, to be held the Fourth Friday in September. In 1998, the California Assembly passed AB 1953, which made Native American Day an official state holiday, observed annually on the fourth Friday in September.

As the original peoples of our nation and state, Native Americans have provided extensive historical contributions to the State of California. For more than 12,000 years, Native Americans have inhabited, preserved, and cultivated this land that ultimately became the Golden State. To this day, several iconic regions in California, from Lake Tahoe to Malibu, are named after native origin.

The resiliency of Native American peoples is a profound statement of their strength. Native Americans have remained a constant presence, with California being home to the largest population of Native Americans in the country’s 50 states. In honor of the contributions and endurance of Native Americans, the Legislature declares the fourth Friday of September to be the state holiday of Native American Day.

"Existing law recognizes various state holidays. Existing law requires the Governor to proclaim annually the 4th Friday in September to be Native American Day.

This bill would recognize the 4th Friday in September as a state holiday to be known as Native American Day." - Assembly Bill No. 1973, CHAPTER 537, Roger Hernandez. State holidays: Native American Day.

California education holidays - schools closed.

Source: ca.gov

In 2026 Native American Day in California in USA falls on September 25.