RESOLUTION NO. 111820A

RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT RECOGNIZING AMERICAN INDIAN HERITAGE MONTH

WHEREAS, National American Indian Heritage Month celebrates and recognizes the Indigenous peoples who were the original inhabitants, explorers, and settlers of what is now the United States; and

WHEREAS, since the 1970’s, the U.S. President has issued proclamations to designate “Native American Awareness Week,” and in 1986 the U.S. Congress authorized and requested the U.S. President to proclaim the week of November 23-30, 1986, as “American Indian Week”; and

WHEREAS, beginning in 1990, the month of November has been designated as “National American Indian Heritage Month,” and the proclamation of U.S. President George H. W. Bush in 1990 acknowledged that Indigenous peoples had “developed rich, thriving cultures, as well as their own systems of social order” before contact with European settlers and also endorsed self-determination for Indigenous peoples by reaffirming “support for increased Indian control over tribal government affairs”; and

WHEREAS, the state of California is home to nearly 200 Native American tribes, and Indigenous peoples remain actively engaged in cultural revitalization, resource protection, and self-determination within every region of California; and

WHEREAS, the Governor of the state of California signed bills on “Native American Day” September 25, 2020, which will become law on January 1, 2021, to strengthen and clarify the process to repatriate Native American remains and artifacts (AB275), increase Native American voting rights (AB2314), and reduce the rates of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls (AB3099); and

WHEREAS, the City of Long Beach is located on lands sacred to California’s Indigenous maritime peoples, including the Tongva, Chumash, Acjachemen, Costanoan, Luiseno, and Kumeyaay Tongva peoples; and

WHEREAS, the LONG BEACH COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT seeks to honor the Indigenous peoples who have inhabited this place for generations and endeavors to be a good steward of the land and waterways for future generations; and

WHEREAS, the LONG BEACH COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT, which is currently implementing a “Framework for Reconciliation” to address racism, acknowledges the impacts of racism on Indigenous peoples and honors leaders who advocate for Indigenous civil rights and ally with other anti-racist groups in solidarity against injustice; and

WHEREAS, the LONG BEACH COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT recognizes that systematic denial of Native American knowledge, cultural authority, and historical experiences perpetuates the colonial structure of oppression and offers classes such as “History of California,” “Introduction to Non- Western Philosophy,” and “World Cuisines: American Regional” to educate students about the culture, history, and philosophy of Indigenous peoples; and

RESOLUTION NO. 111820A

WHEREAS, the LONG BEACH COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT also partners with American Indian Changing Spirits, a non-profit program that provides culturally relevant, community-based outreach and education with evidence-based recovery programming focused on American Indians who suffer from drug and alcohol addiction and/or dependency, to deliver Adult Education workshops to the local American Indian community; and

WHEREAS, the LONG BEACH COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT’s student clubs provide opportunities for American Indians, Alaska Natives, Pacific Islanders, and all people of Indigenous ancestry to connect with campus communities that expand their relations and enrich their educational and academic experiences;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees of LONG BEACH COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT hereby recognizes American Indian Heritage Month and supports opportunities for all students, staff, faculty, and members of the public to celebrate and learn more about Indigenous histories and cultures.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto set our hands this 18th day of November 2020.

AYES: ______NAYS: ______ABSTAIN: ______ABSENT: ______BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY

By:______Vivian Malauulu, Board President Long Beach Community College District Board of Trustees

Attested to:______Lou Anne Bynum, Interim Superintendent-President Secretary of the Board of Trustees Long Beach Community College District