SAN JOSE, CA – On Wednesday, October 21, 2020, the Santa Clara County Board of Education unanimously approved and signed a resolution in celebration and observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day and the month of November as Native American Heritage Month.
The Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE) recognizes the second Monday of October as the national observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day and November as Native American Heritage Month. The SCCOE acknowledges and celebrates local and national Indigenous People and Native Americans, in particular, the Muwekma Ohlone tribe of Santa Clara County, as well as the Amah Hutson, Esselen, and Taymen tribes, and their efforts to revive and preserve the culture, language, and history of the first people of this region.
“Both the Santa Clara County Office of Education and its Board of Trustees are dedicated to observing and celebrating the diversity of our students, so it is a real honor to be able to acknowledge both Indigenous People’s Day and Native American Heritage Month,” said Santa Clara County Board of Education President, Claudia Rossi. “It is very important that our students know the history of the land of Santa Clara County and are able to learn from and celebrate those that came before us.”
The SCCOE recognizes the remarkable work by local Santa Clara County organizations and individuals such as the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) and its commitment to support the advancement of Native Americans in STEM education and careers. Additionally, the Indian Health Center of Santa Clara Valley, under the leadership of Sonya M. Tetnowski, a Makah tribal member, has offered comprehensive health care and wellness services since 1977. The SCCOE also celebrates activists Kanyon “Coyote Woman” Sayer-Roods and Anne Marie Sayer. Anne Marie is the steward of Indian Canyon, the only federally recognized Indigenous land in the Bay Area, and Kanyon, Ann Marie’s daughter, has released a film featuring their activism titled, “In the Land of My Ancestors.”
“Indigenous Peoples’ Day and Native American Heritage Month are opportunities for us to reflect upon the severe injustice and dispossession suffered by the first people of our region and nation,” said Dr. Mary Ann Dewan, Santa Clara County Superintendent of Schools. “Through their stories, history and heroic efforts, we learn about, respect, and celebrate the legacy, heritage and culture of the Indigenous Peoples and Native Americans and their contributions.”
The SCCOE is committed to enhancing equity, diversity, and inclusion and thereby, honors local and national indigenous populations and Native Americans. With over 180 tribes represented in Santa Clara County, the SCCOE remains dedicated to providing schools and districts with resources and supports that advance ethnic studies courses and curriculum.
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About the Santa Clara County Office of Education
Working collaboratively with school and community partners, the Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE) is a regional service agency that provides instructional, business, and technology services to the 31 school districts of Santa Clara County. The County Office of Education directly serves students through special education programs, alternative schools, Head Start and State Preschool programs, migrant education, and Opportunity Youth Academy. The SCCOE also provides academic and fiscal oversight and monitoring to districts in addition to the 22 Santa Clara County Board of Education authorized charter schools.