The City of Sonoma has officially designated November 2024 as Native American Heritage Month, honoring the rich cultural heritage and contributions of Native Americans throughout the United States. On November 6th, Mayor John Gurney and Sonoma City Council acknowledged the City of Sonoma is located in the ancestral territory of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, descendants of the Coast Miwok and Southern Pomo peoples, presented Tribal Councilwoman and Tribal Secretary Melissa Elgin from the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria (pictured) with a proclamation recognizing this important observance.
Native American Heritage Month is a time to reflect on the history, culture, resilience, and ongoing contributions of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria and all Native American peoples. The City encourages residents to engage in educational programs, events, and activities that promote awareness and appreciation of Native American culture and heritage in addition to building partnerships with the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria to honor their traditions and history.
The full proclamation and a recording of the City Council meeting are available for viewing on the City’s CivicWeb portal: Watch & View Proclamation.
Pictured (from the left): Mayor John Gurney, Councilmember Ron Wellander, presented Tribal Councilwoman and Tribal Secretary Melissa Elgin, Councilmember Sandra Lowe, Vice Mayor Patricia Farrar-Rivas, Councilmember Jack Ding