(1) Indigenous peoples have lived upon this land since time immemorial. The City and County of San Francisco recognizes that the original inhabitants of the area now known as San Francisco were the Ramaytush Ohlone and that other neighboring tribes, like the Chochenyo Ohlone, Tamyen Ohlone, Karkin, Bay Miwok, Coast Miwok, and Patwin lived in the surrounding Bay Area. Despite the near decimation of indigenous peoples due to colonization and genocide, descendants of the original peoples continue to live in the Bay Area. The City especially recognizes and supports the campaign of the Muwekma Ohlone to become federally recognized, as reflected in Resolution No. 489-02.
(2) San Francisco has a responsibility to oppose the systematic racism towards indigenous peoples in the United States, which perpetuates high rates of poverty and income inequality, exacerbates inequities in health and education, and contributes to numerous other social crises among Native Americans.
(3) San Francisco recognizes the historic discrimination and violence inflicted upon indigenous peoples in the United States, including their forced removal from ancestral lands, and the deliberate and systematic destruction of their communities and culture. As a result of this forced removal, San Francisco has become home to one of the largest populations of urban Indians in the nation. The City values the progress our society has accomplished through their many contributions.
(4) In 1977, a movement began to replace the Columbus Day holiday with a celebration known as Indigenous Peoples Day to recognize and commemorate the contribution of indigenous peoples to the United States and to condemn the atrocities that were committed against them. In 1992, the City of Berkeley, California became the first city to officially declare October 12 a “Day of Solidarity with Indigenous People” and symbolically renamed Columbus Day “Indigenous Peoples’ Day.” Since then, several states, cities, and towns have followed suit.
(5) The San Francisco Human Rights Commission adopted and published a report titled “Discrimination by Omission,” written by a Native American Taskforce in 2007, that called for the City to recognize Indigenous Peoples Day.
(b) The second Monday in October each year shall be known as Indigenous Peoples Day. All official City communications, notices, calendars, and other publications, whether electronic or paper, shall refer to that day as Indigenous Peoples Day rather than Columbus Day.
(c) This Section
16.4 does not affect the recognition or non-recognition of the second Monday in October as a holiday for City departments and employees.
(d) Nothing in this Section
16.4 shall prohibit the City from providing funds or support to events that commemorate or celebrate the holiday using the name Columbus Day or other descriptors.
(Added by Ord. , File No. 171138, App. 2/9/2018, Eff. 3/12/2018; amended by Ord. , File No. 190285, App. 10/11/2019, Eff. 11/11/2019)
(Former Sec. 16.4 by Ord. No. 6896(1939), Sec. 1; amended by Ord. 287-96, App. 7/12/96; Ord. 438-96, App. 11/8/96; Ord. 149-00, File No. 000696, App. 6/30/2000; redesignated as Sec. 16.3 by Ord. , File No. 171138, App. 2/9/2018, Eff. 3/12/2018)
