Overview:
The California Legislative Native American Caucus will honor six distinguished Native leaders during the 2026 California Native American Cultural Day on Aug. 3 at the State Capitol in Sacramento. Chaired by Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino), the annual celebration will recognize individuals whose leadership has advanced Tribal communities, preserved Indigenous cultures, expanded educational opportunities, and improved the lives of Native people across California.
The California Legislative Native American Caucus will honor six Native leaders whose work strengthened Tribal communities, advanced Native rights, and preserved Indigenous cultures during the 2026 California Native American Cultural Day on Monday, Aug. 3.
Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino), chair of the California Legislative Native American Caucus, announced this year’s honorees, who will be recognized during ceremonies in both the California Assembly and Senate. This year’s observance marks the first time the annual recognition will be held in the Senate chamber.
The day begins at 1 p.m. with a recognition ceremony on the Assembly floor, where legislators will honor six Native Californians for their contributions to Tribal communities and the state. The event will be followed by a 6 p.m. reception featuring cultural performances by the Tuolumne Me-Wuk Singers, Intertribal Bird Singers, and other Native performers from across California. Tribal leaders, legislators, family members, and guests will gather as honorees—or their families in the case of posthumous awards—accept legislative resolutions recognizing their accomplishments.
Five of this year’s six honorees are being recognized posthumously.
Among them is Rowena “Rena” Ramos of the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation, remembered as a respected Tribal elder, spiritual leader, mentor, and cultural keeper. Ramos helped establish early governmental guidelines for her Tribe and devoted countless hours to teaching Yuhaaviatam children their history, stories, and traditions. In 2019, she received the Lifetime Legacy Award from the Time for Change Foundation.
The late Troy Fletcher, former executive director of the Yurok Tribe, is also being honored for his leadership in protecting the Klamath River and expanding Tribal lands. Widely respected for bringing together competing interests on complex environmental and land issues, Fletcher played a key role in advancing historic protections for the river before his passing in 2015 at the age of 53.
The Caucus will also recognize Betty June DuBois of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians for preserving Luiseño traditions and strengthening Native identity across California. Working alongside her nephew, Tribal Chairman Mark Macarro, she helped revitalize cultural practices and spiritual traditions that sustained the Tribe through decades of hardship and discrimination.
The lone living recipient, Dr. Celeste Townsend, serves as president of the California Indian Nations College. An enrolled citizen of the Fort Bidwell Indian Community and a descendant of the Shoshone-Paiute Tribe of Duck Valley, Townsend has led the college to become California’s only stand-alone, fully accredited Tribal college, expanding higher education opportunities for Native students statewide.
Also receiving posthumous recognition is Dennis Magee of the Pala Band of Mission Indians, whose decades of advocacy transformed health care access for Native people in California. Magee was a key figure in the landmark Rincon v. Califano litigation, which successfully challenged the federal government’s denial of Indian Health Service funding for Native people living in California.
The final honoree is Beverly J. Hunter, former chairperson of the Table Mountain Rancheria. Hunter served in numerous Tribal leadership roles, including chairing the Tribal Gaming Commission and Pow-Wow Committee. She also helped lead efforts to repatriate Native ancestors and cultural belongings from institutions including the University of California, Berkeley and Chicago’s Field Museum of Natural History.
The California Legislative Native American Caucus established California Native American Cultural Day to celebrate the cultures, histories, and enduring contributions of Native peoples while recognizing individuals whose leadership has strengthened Tribal communities and improved the lives of Native Californians.
