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

Native American Day (CA)
Observed by California
Type Historical
Significance A day in honor of Native Americans
Date Fourth Friday in September
2014 date September 26
2015 date September 25
2016 date September 23
2017 date September 22
Frequency annual

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

Native American Day (SD)
Observed by South Dakota
Type Historical
Significance A day in honor of Native Americans
Date Second Monday in October
2014 date October 13
2015 date October 12
2016 date October 10
2017 date October 9
Frequency annual

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.

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

References

Tennessee

South Dakota