Accomplishments
Celebrating Diversity: Native American
As Governor, Gray Davis has built a strong relationship with California’s Native Americans. He’s worked with Indian Tribal leaders to aid tribes in their quest to establish self-sustaining economic environments.
The Governor’s actions on behalf of Native Americans include:
• Signed historic Tribal-State gaming compacts with 62 California Indian Tribes. The most recent was the Torres Martinez compact on August 13, 2003.
• Reaffirmed the sovereign status of California’s federally recognized tribes and the unique rights that sovereignty confers.
• Signed the first Native American Day Proclamation since the Reagan Administration.
• Signed the California Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 2001, establishing a process for the return of Native American remains and cultural items.
• Implemented the nation’s first urban Indian Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), serving those eligible in Los Angeles County.
• On July 25, 2003, the Governor appointed Marilyn Delgado as the Director of the Governor’s Office of American Indian Coordinator to assume the responsibility of compact policy issues and to coordinate all state departments and agencies on Indian issues.
• Sponsored SB 18 (Burton), to give legal protections to Native American Traditional Tribal Cultural Sites and recognize tribal rights to preserve and access these sites in order to continue important cultural practices.
• Prevented destruction of the Quechan Tribe’s “Trail of Dreams” through the enactment of SB 483 (Sher, 2002) and SB 22 (Sher, 2003).
TRIBAL ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY
• Signed legislation (AB 673, Horton, 2003) to fill shortfall to Indian gaming revenue sharing trust fund and help California’s tribes gain self-sufficiency.
• Appointed the first-ever Gambling Control Commission members, who act as the trustees for the Indian Revenue Sharing Trust Fund, thereby enabling the collection and distribution of funds to eligible tribes and their members.
EDUCATION
• Signed legislation to help develop educational materials for teaching school children about Native American history and culture.
• Signed a bill extending the Indian Education Center Program, which provides educational resource centers in American Indian communities.
HEALTH
• Signed legislation to assure that California Indian tribes may participate in the Access for Infants and Mothers program and the Major Medical Risk Insurance Program.
• More than 2,600 Native American Children are now enrolled in the Healthy Families Program.
• Increased funding for the Indian Health Clinics Program.
APPOINTMENTS
Native American Heritage Commission Appointees
• Larry Meyers, Executive Director, Pinoleville Rancheria
• William (Bill) Mungary, Paiute and White Mountain Apache tribes
• Clifford Trafzer, Wyandot Tribe
• Fawn Morris. Yurok Tribe
• Katherine Saubel, Cahuilla Tribe
Governor’s Office of American Indian Coordinator
• Marilyn Delgado, Hayfork Band of Wintu Indians, Nor-Rel-Muk Nation
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Accomplishments
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