To encourage increased knowledge of California's history and the contributions of its native peoples, governor Jerry Brown recently signed into law a bill that requires secondary schools to offer a course in Native American studies. The bill also mandates the development of a model curriculum, to be created with input from various tribes across the state.
The author of the bill, California Assembly member Monique Limon, stresses the importance of Native peoples' contributions to the required curriculum. She notes that such a process will ensure a course of study that will give marginalized communities the chance to tell their stories and provide Native students with representation in public education. This is crucial in a state that has not only the largest percentage of Native American residents, but also the third-highest number of Native students in its public schools.