Groundbreaking ceremony held for new state monument honoring tribes
The effort to build a new monument commemorating Native Americans in California’s capital took another step forward on Monday.
Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-Highland), Sacramento-area tribal leaders and other dignitaries on Monday broke ground in Sacramento’s Capitol Park for a monument honoring Native Americans on whose ancestral the Capitol now sits.
The groundbreaking comes as the state and nation celebrate Native American Heritage Month.
California has a greater number of Native Americans than any other state, and tribal leaders noted that the new tribute is a welcome, if long overdue, acknowledgment.
Ramos — the first California Native American elected to the Legislature since statehood 172 years ago — introduced AB 338 in 2021, which authorized erection of the monument.
He authored the measure after the removal of the Junipero Serra sculpture.
The new statue will stand where the Serra sculpture was located.
Capitol Park’s newest memorial will highlight respected Miwok leader and cultural dancer, the late William Franklin.
Franklin, played a critical role in preserving Miwok dances and traditions and helped build three Northern California roundhouses, dedicated spaces for Native Americans ceremonies, songs, dances and gatherings.
Sacramento sculptor Ronnie Frostad will undertake the design of the project.
“Once this new monument is completed, it will serve to remind students and all visitors to this historic Capitol Park that Native Americans lived on this land — and cared for it — long before California statehood and its preceding eras,” Ramos said.
“It is truly a momentous occasion to finally have a depiction of California’s first inhabitants on Capitol grounds,” said Wilton Rancheria Tribal Chairman Jesus Tarango, who also is a bill sponsor. “Our people have lacked representation for far too long on our own lands, but this moment is a step in the right direction for all California Indigenous people.”
"In our culture it is customary to show appreciation and gratitude when invited to another nation's ancestral homelands. This is a monumental moment for all of California’s First People – to have the ability to not only share a rendering but to share our culture, resiliency and legacy of survival shown by our ancestors,” said Andrea Reich, chairwoman of the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians.
Lloyd Mathiesen, chairman of the Chicken Ranch Rancheria Tribal Council, added, “After 200 plus years the native people of this land will be represented at our state capital.”
AB 338 sponsors included six Northern California tribes: Wilton Rancheria, Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians, Chicken Ranch Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians, Ione Band of Miwok Indians, Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians and the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians.
Other bill supporters included Nashville-Enterprise Miwok-Maidu-Nishinam Tribal Council, Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians, Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, The Yurok Tribe, Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria, Northern Chumash Tribe San Luis Obispo County and Region, the Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians, Central California Tribal Chairs Associations, California Tribal Business Alliance, Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations and the California Nations Indian Gaming Association.