Native American Day

Native American Day is a holiday in the U.S. states of California and South Dakota. It honors Native American cultures and contributions to their respective states and the United States. The state of Tennessee observes a similar American Indian Day each year.

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.

South Dakota

In 1989, the South Dakota legislature unanimously passed legislation proposed by Governor George S. Mickelson to proclaim 1990 as the "Year of Reconciliation" between Native Americans and whites, to change Columbus Day to Native American Day and to make Martin Luther King's birthday into a state holiday. Since 1990, the second Monday in October has been celebrated as Native American Day in South Dakota. South Dakota is the only state to practice non-observance of the federal holiday of Columbus Day by recognizing Native American Day.

Tennessee

In 1994, the state number agenda General Assembly established the 31st day of October of each year is to be especially observed in Tennessee as "American Indian Day" (TCA 15-2-106).

See also

• Indigenous People's Day
• Native American Heritage Day
• Opposition to Columbus celebrations
• Brazilian Native American Day

References

Tennessee

• The text of the 1998 bill
• Native American Day Official Webpage

South Dakota

• South Dakota legislation.
• South Dakota holiday legislation