06/07/2026
Secretary Snider-Ashtari had the privilege of reading Governor Newsom’s Proclamation of Honored Elders Day at the 47th Annual Honored Elders Day event in Sacramento. Happy Honored Elders Day!
Full text of the Proclamation below:
This Honored Elders Day, we again gather at the State Indian Museum to mark the 47th annual gathering of Native families, friends, and allies in honor of Native American elders throughout the state.
Many of the Native elders we celebrate today have lived to see unprecedented change over the course of their lives—from dramatic changes to California’s ecosystems and landscapes to rapid advances in technology and communication. They have also lived to see significant shifts in the visibility and expression of Native American cultures. Through these changes, Native elders have remained steadfast custodians of living traditions, carrying forward the knowledge, values, and practices that define Native communities across the state.
Across California, Native elders continue to play a vital role in preserving cultural traditions, strengthening tribal communities, and ensuring that Native knowledge endures for generations to come. Where Native languages and practices may have gone dormant - either by force or by survival - over the course of 175 years of American colonization, tribal communities across the state now rely on their elders to coax conversations, basketweaving techniques, language, land stewardship practices, and songs back into regular practice.
Today, we honor the Native American elders whose contributions have enriched communities in countless ways. Whether teaching successive generations, preserving cultural traditions, advocating for tribal sovereignty, or simply offering a warm hug and a lifetime of stories, their impact is immeasurable. The perseverance, wisdom, grace, and humility of Native elders continues to inspire and offers hope to all Californians in the face of increasing uncertainty and change.
As we honor the lives of Native elders today, we recognize our shared responsibility to ensure that their legacies - and the vibrant cultures,
communities, and families they have sustained-will continue to thrive for years to come.
NOW THEREFORE I, GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of the State of California, do hereby proclaim June 6, 2026, as "Honored Elders Day."
