SF Board of Education Votes to Make Reparations to American Indian and Alaskan Native Communities

San Francisco (January 27, 2021) - The San Francisco Board of Education has unanimously passed a resolution that calls on the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) to seek reparations to the American Indian and Alaskan Native communities. The resolution, “In Support of Reclaiming the American Indian/Alaskan Native Narrative,” was co-authored by Board Vice President Alison M. Collins and Commissioner Mark Sanchez.

Per the resolution, SFUSD recognizes that the city of San Francisco sits on occupied unceded Ramaytush Ohlone land. SFUSD will post markers at all District sites and offices acknowledging this occupation, including the lobby at SFUSD Headquarters at 555 Franklin Street. With training from the officially recognized Ohlone tribal leaders by the Ramaytush Ohlone, the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) will recognize and adopt the official Land Acknowledgement provided by the Ramaytush Ohlone people.

Key reparations in the resolution include prioritizing and protecting funding for the San Francisco Unified School District American Indian Education Program; removing stereotypes and misinformation about American Indian, Alaskan Native and all Indigenous people from school walls, celebrations and textbooks; providing educators with curriculum resources to teach true Native American history; identifying American Indian, Alaskan Native Students and Families to connect them to the Title VI Indian Education Program; and acknowledging California Indian Day in September as the fourth Friday of every September, beginning with September 24, 2021.

“The resolution was collaboratively written with American Indian families and also included voices of Ramaytush Ohlone leaders on whose unceded land our district now occupies,” Board Vice President Alison M. Collins said. “Co-authoring this resolution resulted in an ongoing partnership between district staff and the community that has already led to changes in our district. And for those who think this is a ‘minority issue,’ it is an American issue. As a non-native person, I want my kids to learn the truth, thank you! And I certainly don’t want them perpetuating harm because they were miseducated.”

Read the full resolution here.

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