California and tribal leaders celebrate opening of first phase of California Indian Heritage Center

“The opening of the Welcome Center of the California Indian Heritage Center marks an important milestone in our efforts to honor California’s first people and preserve their cultures and traditions for generations to come,” said Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry. “Thanks to years of dedication from Tribal leaders, the City of West Sacramento, and our state partners, we are bringing this long-held vision to life. I look forward to continuing our work to create a place where Tribal communities can share their stories on their own terms and all Californians can learn from their rich history and living traditions.”

“It was my great honor to be a part of the team to move this unique and beautiful Center forward,” said Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino). “This site allows for and encourages the First People to gather, to share our history and culture, and to teach a more complete and truthful history of California’s Native Americans. My bill, AB 1592, signed by Gov. Newsom, authorizes the California Department of Parks and Recreation to enter into an agreement with the Heritage Support Center Organization to support the ongoing development of this historic and deeply meaningful project.”  

“The opening of the California Indian Heritage Center Welcome Center is an important moment for the tribal communities who have worked for years to bring this vision to life,” said West Sacramento Mayor Martha Guerrero. “West Sacramento is honored to be part of this milestone and to welcome a space dedicated to sharing California Native history, culture, and traditions. We look forward to seeing the Center continue to grow and to the opportunities it will create for future generations.”

“For generations, California’s tribal communities have carried their history through storytelling, passed down from elders who kept these traditions alive when no one else would,” said District 2 Councilmember Quirina Orozco. “Today, West Sacramento becomes home to a place where those stories will be told by the people who lived them, in their own words. This Welcome Center is a first step, and it’s a powerful one. We owe it to the elders and tribal leaders who never stopped fighting for it, and we are honored to stand with them for this incredible milestone.”

“Today marks a historic milestone in California’s commitment to honor tribal sovereignty, history, and culture,” said California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot. “The California Indian Heritage Center is a place for tribes, by tribes, where Native peoples can celebrate, share stories, and pass on traditions to future generations. Under Governor Newsom’s leadership, we’re returning ancestral lands, supporting tribal stewardship, and strengthening partnerships with Tribes to build a future where we all thrive together.”

“Opening the first phase of the California Indian Heritage Center (CIHC) is literally a welcoming act to what will be a place for the indigenous people of California to tell the stories of the first nations of what we know today as California,” said California State Parks Director Armando Quintero. “It will be a gateway to the ancient cultures who are still with us today and provide a deeper connection and belonging for all who visit the CIHC.”

The CIHC welcome center parking area will be open to visitors Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission for California tribal members is free, and public parking is $6.

For updates on the project, visit caindianheritagecenter.org.

Under the Newsom administration, strengthened partnerships between tribes and the state have produced outcomes, to name a few: 

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